BLADE WITH DECORATED HILT

China

Year 5th-4th century BCE

Materials Bronze with black patina and yellow-golden blade, setting of turquoises and semi-precious brown-yellow stones

Inventory Cb/57.D

Dimensions 47,4 cm

Definition Weapon

Collection

China

Additional Infos Provenance: Central-southern China

Description Sword composed of a cylindrical handle provided with two annular bulges and a large double-winged blade. The hilt of the sword is rhomboidal in cross-section with its four sides slightly inclined at a “V” angle towards the blade. An animal mask is depicted on one of the two faces and it's composed of semi-precious stones set symmetrical to the central rib: turquoise and other semi-precious stones form the eyes and mouth respectively. The details on the upper part of the mask are obtained with a brown and yellow stone. On the other side of the hilt, the same brown-yellow stones form an abstract scrolled decoration. It's probably a parade sword.