Page 63 - 2011 - The Frank Arts Collection, Chinese Bronzes

19. Bronze short sword

Bronze short sword
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Mid – Late Spring and Autumn period, 6 – 5 century BC
Probably Qin culture.
Length: 26 cm

Bronze short sword or dagger with a hollow handle cast on both sides in an
openwork pattern of interlaced dragons. The guard is decorated with panchi designs
which were originally inlaid with turquoise, glass, cabochon or turquoise beads.
The weapon’s tapering blade has a pronounced median rib on each of its sides.
The dagger has a green patina.

Provenance:
- Frank Arts Collection, Belgium.

Note:
- Short swords of this type, used by ancient China’s northern ethnic groups, are
discussed by Zheng Shaozong, A study of the Periodisation and Types of Bronze
Short Swords in Northern China, WenWu 1984, No. 2.

Similar examples:
- A similar dagger from the A. Hardy Collection is illustrated by Li Xueqin, The
Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore 2000, catalogue No. 40.
- similar dagger handles excavated in 1998 from tomb 98LDM2 in
Yuandingshan, are illustrated in Qin Xi Chui Ling Qu, Beijing, Wenwu, 2004,
p 106 plate 37 No. 1 – 3.

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