WARRING STATES PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH CENTURY BC

A sword of slightly larger size (60.5 cm. long), with turquoise inlay in the guard and rings but not the pommel, is illustrated by M. Loehr, Chinese Bronze Age Weapons, University of Michigan, 1956, pl. XXXVIII (no. 98). The author's description of the patina, p. 203, also seems to be very similar to that of the present sword. A detail of another sword, no. 97, pl. XL, which also has turquoise inlay on the guard and rings, shows remains of fine fibers wrapped around the hilt just below the pommel. A bronze sword from the Stephen Junkunc Collection similarly cast with two rings on the handle, was sold at Christie’s New York, 19 March 2021, lot 608, and a bronze sword with a gold-inlaid pommel from the Arthur M. Sackler collection was sold at Christie’s New York, 21 March 2013, lot 1234.