**Originally Listed At $500**

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A short bronze sword or dagger with both its broad sides cast with an incised motif of Bashe, the mythological serpent of Chinese legend. The blade is thin, with a low, rounded ridge and a short tang pierced in two places for attachment to a handle. Small remains of gilding on the body and the tang give us clues as to how it looked when it was first made - with a darkly gleaming blade and a handle made of ivory or bone. An item like this one would have belonged to someone high ranking, perhaps someone for whom the story of the Bashe had personal meaning. Size: 10.375" L x 1" W (26.4 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: private J. Connell collection, Massachusetts, USA

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#127389

Repaired from three pieces. Light corrosion along edges. Nicely preserved motifs and dark green, largely smooth patina with small area of gilding remaining.