Skip to Content

A RARE GOLD-INLAID BRONZE SWORD
- EARLY WARRING STATES PERIOD, FIRST HALF 5TH CENTURY BC

Contemporary, modern and old century works of art at auction for buyers and collectors at Christie’s auction house

View, register and bid for sales

A RARE GOLD-INLAID BRONZE SWORD
EARLY WARRING STATES PERIOD, FIRST HALF 5TH CENTURY BC
Estimate
(Set Currency)
    $10,000 - $15,000

Sale Information

Sale 2405
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections
25 March 2010
New York, Rockefeller Plaza





Lot Description

A RARE GOLD-INLAID BRONZE SWORD
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, the guard inlaid in fine gold wire with a taotie mask on one side, and the hilt with two circular flanges below a circular, dished pommel
26½ in. (67.3 cm.) long, wood box with glass cover

Lot Condition Report
I confirm that I have read this Important Notice and agree to its terms.
View Condition Report
Provenance

Frank Caro, New York, 1964.

Lot Notes

A long sword (53.5 cm.) of this type, with a median ridge similarly made from a different alloy, which is inlaid in gold with an inscription of twenty characters in bird script, is illustrated by C. Delacour, De bronze, d'or et d'argent: Arts somptuaires de la Chine, Musée Guimet, Paris, 2001, pp. 130-2. The guard of the Guimet sword is similarly inlaid in gold, as well as turquoise, with a taotie mask.

Department Information
Keywords