Lot 112
Asian Art. Southeast Asia, southwestern China (modern day Yunnan Province), Dian Kingdom, ca. 4th to 1st century BCE. A symmetrical, well-proportioned, cast bronze dagger or short sword with a distinctive leaf-like blade shape, a long, flat guard, and a handle of gentle hourglass shape with a flat, oval-shaped pommel. The handle would once have been wrapped in something perishable like leather, wood, or antler to form a suitable grip, and the pommel may have been studded or inlaid with a precious stone to cover the tang. Size: 10.125" L x 2.875" W (25.7 cm x 7.3 cm)
Bronzes from the Dian Kingdom were initially believed to be Dong Son or Chinese, mainly discovered as the result of stray archaeological finds. Their identification as Dian, a non-Chinese indigenous group, came only recently after several decades of accumulated research. A number of rich burials containing bronze and other metal objects like this dagger form much of the basis for our knowledge about this cultural group; the name comes from a Chinese inscription on a gold seal in one particular rich grave that identified its owner as the chief of the "Dian Kingdom". A dagger like this, with its fine craftmanship, was probably owned by an elite member of this little-known society.
Provenance: private J. Connell collection, Massachusetts, USA
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#127392
- Condition: Smooth grey-green patina on surface. Tiny hole from corrosion on one side of blade. Casting flaws around the top of the grip/hilt.
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