SOLD An exceptional and very rare antique 17th -19th century, Chinese Qing Dynasty Imperial Guard, spear/lance head, extremely well made sturdy hand forged diamond- shaped steel blade with medial ridge, moulded tapering socket with brass and copper collars. The top is chased and engraved with native ornament. The spear head is together with its original red and black dyed horsehair tassel fitted in a green fabric ring.

CONDITION: In good condition considering its age, showing age and usage.

MEASUREMENTS
Overall length of the steel head: 24.5 cm (9.65 inches)

A spear with identical head with a diamond- shaped steel blade with medial ridge, moulded tapering socket with brass and copper collars, with the top collar chased and engraved with an identical pattern as is on ours and also with red and black dyed horsehair tassel, is in art collections of THE CHINESE NATIONAL MUSEUM FORBIDDEN CITY PALACE MUSEUM IN BEIJING. QING COURT COLLECTION. The picture of this spear is published in the Chinese book," book “CHINESE ARMS AND ARMOURS” an illustrated history. Page 249.No266. (The details of the spear head published in this book are only visible under magnifying glass).

All the artifacts illustrated in this catalogue are of the highest quality and associated with Chinese Imperial Court.

So it is possible that there are only two, world known, existing spear heads of this type. One in the Forbidden City Palace Museum in Beijing, and the second is ours.

Author: National Palace Museum encoding / Xu Qixian editor
Press: Shanghai Science and Technology Press
Published: 2008
Series: Treasures of the Palace Museum of the Great Series
ISBN: 9787532395514

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references, together with a certificate of authenticity.