Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 23rd January 2019, 09:46 AM   #1
Bill M
Member
 
Bill M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
Default #1499 Chinese Warring States sword.

CHINA. EARLY WARRING STATES PERIOD, FIRST HALF 5TH CENTURY BC The long tapering blade with beveled edges and with a distinct median ridge made from a different alloy and now of turquoise color, and the hilt with six circular flanges below a circular, dished pommel.

In the area of Chinese fakes and who can you trust? We acquired this sword personally from well-known author Anthony Allen. of "Allen's Authentication of Ancient Chinese Bronzes"

Height 1.13", Width 2",Length 21.5"

Notice some cloth remnants in closeup of the hilt?
Attached Images
     
Bill M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd February 2019, 03:45 PM   #2
josh stout
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
Default

That is an amazing bronze, and I am glad to know its provenance, because I assume every one I see is a modern fake. The patina is a wonderful blue green, and does indeed seem to have fabric incorporated into it. Could it have been a metallic thread, or do you think it is more like a fossil where the organic component has been replaced with metal oxides?

It is also nice to see the edge with a slight color difference. It seems that these were quite sophisticated with a harder bronze at the edge and softer shock absorbing bronze in the body. This technology was the conceptual foundation for harder steel edges on Chinese swords beginning in the Han. Basically it seems that as soon as the Chinese had iron, they went to massed produced folded steel with differential hardening almost instantly. The sophistication of these bronze blades provided the conceptual framework to make that possible. In their time they were second to none.

It is also interesting to note how simple and ergonomic the design is. Bronze guo and cong from the period are highly decorated.
josh stout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd February 2019, 08:12 AM   #3
RobertGuy
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 135
Default

A very nice example with excellent provenance. The presence of the remains of fabric wrapping would lend itself to carbon dating if it is not totally fossilised. I am not sure it is necessary in this case but would be a certain way to prove authenticity which cannot usually be done with bronzes.
RobertGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.