**First Time At Auction**

East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. A nice set of two swords with forged steel blades, wooden sheaths wrapped in tactile stingray skin, and brass fittings. The first weapon is a double-edged sword known as a jian with copper inlays on the blade, a stylized Taotie mask hand guard, and a bulb-form pommel above the wooden handle. The larger sword is a single-edged variety known as a dao with a shallow fuller beneath the gently curved blade spine. The discoid hand guard is adorned with raised curvilinear motifs, and the pommel exhibits similar patterns above the thread-wrapped wooden handle. Both sword sheaths have at least one suspension loop for easy transportation. Size (jian w/ sheath): 2.6" W x 24.2" H (6.6 cm x 61.5 cm); (blade): 16.625" L (42.2 cm); (dao w/ sheath): 2.625" W x 27.1" H (6.7 cm x 68.8 cm); (blade): 19.625" L (49.8 cm)

Provenance: private Englewood, Colorado USA collection; ex-M. Komor Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, circa 1965

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#167233

Jian has loss to lower sheath tip, stable fissures to rayskin sheath wrap, and abrasions to handle, pommel, and hand guard; blade sticks within sheath and is somewhat difficult to remove. Dao has fissures to rayskin sheath wrap, loosening and losses to thread wrappings on handle, and light abrasions to blade. Both swords have nicely sharpened edges and good patina to brass elements.