Fine ‘Jian’ (劍) shortsword

A fine example of a classic ‘Jian’ (劍) shortsword. Most likely carried by a scholar or brought back by an officer, decorated with brass fittings and good quality forged blade. Mistakenly considered as only curio-trade examples, many were actually made for self-defense, with good quality forged blades and were known in Chinese culture as far back as 500BC.

Many collectors see these ‘Jian’ short swords as tourist quality souvenirs. While some were made for the export market indeed, they turned up during the latest part of the Qing Dynasty when scholars and gentlemen started to carry short swords as status symbol and to protect themselves when necessary. They come in different qualities, some with brass covered scabbards, sometimes with ivory hilts, or like this example, with caved wooden grip and wooden, with tortoiseshell covered scabbard.

Our example here can be considered of high quality, better than most examples seen on today’s market. The wooden hilt features a fine carved floral decoration of peoniess and bats, surrounded by a rolling thunder border. The casted brass guard symbolizes a ‘taotie’ mask and the pommel depicts a ‘taiji’ symbolizing the cosmic ‘yin’ and ‘yang’.

The blade:

An exceptional heavy and well balanced, functional blade with double cutting edge and triangle tip. The medial ridge on the entire blade provides a diamond cross section which is perfectly balanced. The point of balance is at approximately fourteen centimeters from the hilt.

The scabbard:

Made of two wooden slabs, held together with chilled brass fittings and covered in tortoiseshell veneer. The fittings show a central depiction of the ‘Shou’ (壽) symbol, surrounded with bats. An auspicious subject within Chinese culture which stands for longevity, prosperity, luck and blessings.

Note: This item contains CITES II appendix material which comes with official documentation, suitable for disposal within the European Union.