Rare Dague en Bronze Dynastie des Zhou Orientaux, Fin de l'époque Printemps-Automne, ca. VIE/VE siècle avant J.-C.

la poignée sculptée ajourée de dragons sinueux entrelacés, leurs queues recourbées dessinant les contours du manche, se terminant par un petit panneau orné de décors zoomorphes, la longue lame pointue aux bords biseautés parcourue d'une arête centrale en léger relief, le bronze enrichi d'une patine lisse de couleur vert clair avec quelques taches noires, D.W 3023

Bronzes Chinois des Dynasties Tcheou, T'sin & Han, Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris, 1934, cat. no. 78 (not illustrated).
International Exhibition of Chinese Art, London, Royal Academy of Art, November 28, 1935-March 7th, 1936, no. 416.

O. Janse,'Le Style du Houai et ses Affinités. Notes à propos de quelques Objets de la Collection David-Weill', in Revue des Arts Asiatiques: Annales du Musée Guimet, vol. VIII, (1934), pl. LIII:1.
Georges Salles, Bronzes Chinois des Dynasties Tcheou, T'sin & Han, Paris, 1934, cat. no. 78 (not illustrated).
Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, London, 1935-1936, cat. no. 416.

The x-ray shows that the dagger is in overall good condition. The top of the openwork cast handle is missing (as visible in the catalogue illustration). There are traces of earth in the recessed parts of the handle. Handle and blade are smoothly polished, the bronze patinated to a dark grey-greenish tone. The inventory number D.W. 3032 is inscribed in white on one side of the base of the handle. The bronze is a slightly darker greenish colour than the catalogue illustration suggests.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cast in lost-wax technique, the present handle is one of a small group of similar dagger handles and scabbards cast in lost-wax technique. A very similar example of a bronze dagger complete with scabbard with the handle similarly cast in lost-wax technique with serpentine dragons tightly entwined and their curled tails breaking the tapering outlines of the handle to receive inlaid beads, from the Collection of Mrs. Christian Holmes and then in the Collection of Frederick M. Mayer, was sold at Sotheby's London, 24th and 25th June 1974, lot 211. The most important example is cast in gold, originally from the Eumorfopoulos Collection, now in the British Museum, London, accession number 4-16.218. Two other bronze examples are illustrated in Arts of the Eastern Chou Dynasty, New York, 1962, no. 4, and in Bo Gyllenvard,'T'ang Gold and Silver', in Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 29, 1957, pl. 2.