CHINESE CEREMONIAL SWORD WITH BRASS FITTINGS AND SILK TASSEL - CIRCA 1880-1920

A FINE EXAMPLE OF CHINESE CEREMONIAL METALWORK, THIS SWORD FEATURES A STRAIGHT STEEL BLADE WITH TRADITIONAL BRASS-MOUNTED FITTINGS THROUGHOUT. THE PIECE EXEMPLIFIES THE CRAFTSMANSHIP CHARACTERISTIC OF LATE QING DYNASTY AND EARLY REPUBLICAN PERIOD CHINESE WEAPONRY.

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:
- BLADE: STRAIGHT STEEL CONSTRUCTION WITH NATURAL PATINA
- POMMEL: BRASS FINIAL WITH DECORATIVE RELIEF CARVING DEPICTING TRADITIONAL CHINESE MOTIFS INCLUDING RUYI SCEPTRE AND CLOUD SCROLL DESIGNS
- GUARD: BRASS CROSSGUARD WITH ELABORATE REPOUSSÉ DECORATION FEATURING SYMMETRICAL FLORAL AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS
- HANDLE: TURNED WOODEN GRIP WITH BRASS FERRULE BANDS AT INTERVALS
- SCABBARD: WOODEN CONSTRUCTION WITH BRASS THROAT AND CHAPE FITTINGS, DECORATED WITH INCISED DRAGON MOTIFS
- TASSEL: ORIGINAL RED SILK CORD WITH BEADED ORNAMENTS AND DECORATIVE KNOTS

DECORATIVE DETAILS:
THE BRASS FITTINGS DISPLAY EXCEPTIONAL RELIEF WORK WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE ICONOGRAPHY. THE POMMEL FEATURES A STYLISED RUYI HEAD WITH SCROLLWORK. THE GUARD EXHIBITS INTRICATE REPOUSSÉ WORK WITH REPEATING CLOUD AND FLOWER MOTIFS. THE SCABBARD THROAT AND CHAPE ARE FINISHED WITH BRASS MOUNTS SHOWING SIMILAR DECORATIVE TREATMENT. THE INCISED DECORATION ON THE WOODEN SCABBARD DEPICTS A COILED DRAGON IN TRADITIONAL STYLE.

DIMENSIONS:
- OVERALL LENGTH: APPROXIMATELY 95 CM
- BLADE LENGTH: APPROXIMATELY 70 CM
- GUARD WIDTH: APPROXIMATELY 12 CM

CONDITION: THE BLADE RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL PATINA WITH NO EVIDENCE OF POLISHING OR RESTORATION. THE BRASS FITTINGS SHOW NATURAL OXIDATION CONSISTENT WITH AGE. THE WOODEN HANDLE AND SCABBARD DISPLAY MINOR SURFACE SCRATCHES AND WEAR MARKS FROM USE AND STORAGE. THE RED SILK TASSEL REMAINS INTACT WITH ORIGINAL BEADED ORNAMENTS. ALL COMPONENTS ARE SECURE AND FUNCTIONAL. NO CRACKS, SPLITS, OR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OBSERVED.

PROVENANCE: ACCOMPANIED BY ORIGINAL BLUE AND RED SILK-LINED PRESENTATION BOX WITH PRINTED LABEL FEATURING CHINESE CHARACTERS AND DECORATIVE DRAGON MOTIF. THE BOX SHOWS AGE-APPROPRIATE WEAR CONSISTENT WITH THE SWORD'S PERIOD.

THIS CEREMONIAL SWORD REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE OF CHINESE METALWORK AND REPRESENTS THE DECORATIVE TRADITIONS OF THE LATE IMPERIAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIODS. SUCH PIECES WERE TYPICALLY PRESENTED AS GIFTS OF HONOUR OR WORN DURING FORMAL OCCASIONS BY OFFICIALS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL.

Item Size: Height: 123cm, Width: 10cm, Depth: 3cm, Weight: 11Kg

Condition: Good - Refer To Images

TOORMINA
548760+1

Location of item: 9 Hi-Tech Drive, Toormina, NSW, Australia

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