China, Eastern Zhou, 770 to 256 BCE. This is an interesting (especially to the chemistry nerds among us!) bronze socketed spearhead from the Eastern Zhou period, a time of warfare and upheaval when spearheads like this were common grave goods. Although tradition has long held that the ratio in bronze spearheads during this period was 75% copper to 25% tin, modern metallurgical analyses have shown that the content of the bronze alloys was highly variable. This particular piece has a high percentage of tin, as shown by the darker blue patina along the edge of the blade -- tin oxide is a deep blue color. When the piece was originally cast, the higher percentage of tin would have made the blade sharper. Size: 9.4" L x 1.6" W (23.9 cm x 4.1 cm).

Provenance: Ex-Estate of John Piscopo. Mr. Piscopo was one of the largest collectors of ancient weapons in the US with a collection that spanned all cultures, all ages.

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#112230

Patina and dirt encrustation.