Two archaic gilt-bronze swords (Jian), Warring States period - Western Han dynasty | 戰國至西漢 銅鎏金龍紋劍及銅鎏金劍

Two archaic gilt-bronze swords (Jian)

Warring States period - Western Han dynasty

戰國至西漢 銅鎏金龍紋劍及銅鎏金劍

the shaft of the longer sword centered on both sides by a raised ridge tapering to form a sharp blade along both edges and drawing to a pointed tip, each beveled side chased with the outline of a chilong with its mouth open near the hilt and its curvilinear body terminating in a pointed tail at the tip, the shaft and hilt guard entirely gilt aside from the sharp edges of the blade, the oval-section handle with two raised fillets and a flaring terminus with traces of gilt, the shorter sword of the same general form, the plain surfaces of the blade decorated in gilt, set with a slender trumpet-form handle, metal stand, Japanese wood box (5)

Length of longer 18 in., 45.7 cm