Qing military rattan shield production
Translation of a page from Qing regulations that describes the production of the Qing military rattan shield.
Asian arms in Dutch master paintings
Dutch masters' fascination with exotic Asian wares shown in a series of paintings.
Qing imperial jade hilted dagger
An extremely rare dagger, made in the Qing court workshops.
Qianmen war arrows
I am a bit of an arrow fetishist.
Ainu dagger
Called kuttom-ushbe in the local language. This one mounted in deer antler mounts.
Miniature Ainu makiri
Despite its size it is of remarkably fine workmanship.
A sketch of East Asian sword evolution
Some time ago, Philip Tom sent me a bunch of his old research files on Asian arms for me to study.
A large Qing dàdāo
Large and heavy example with the notable Umlauff provenance.
Black velvet Beijing hat
The hat traditionally worn by Beijingese gentlemen.
Southern Chinese military bamboo helmet
The archetype Chinese bamboo helmet that is often seen on early photos.
Painted conical bamboo helmet
Description
An old Chinese conical helmet of a type that militiamen and foot soldiers wore.
Chinese bamboo helmet
As worn by Southern Chinese military and militiamen.
Twisted hilt knife
Unusual Chinese knife with a twisted hilt with horn scales.
Inlaid lacquer trousse set
Unusual Chinese trousse set with "friends of winter" theme.
Pair of fine Yunnan knives
Carrying Chinese silver marks on their scabbard mounts.
Large Qing military sword
Probably of Southern origin, with a straight blade and flaring tip.
Southern Chinese openwork sword guard
In the style of northern work of the 16th and 17th centuries
Assymetric dragon tsuba
Chinese work for the Japanese market.
Canton tsuba with 28 "jewels"
Canton work for the Japanese market, with 28 metal balls in separate compartments.
Early Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Lobed Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Canton tsuba with ship
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Five dragon Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Water caltrop Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Facing dragon Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Nanban tsuba, a Canton group
Introduction
Among the genre generally classified as Nanban tsuba there is a distinct group with cha
Pierced silver buckle
Made of solid silver, in Qing court style. With 19th-century European import marks.
Signed "nanban tsuba"
Among the work classified as "nanban", signed work is very rare. Here are some examples of signed works in the style.
Archaic Chinese shortsword
Probably of Chinese origin, resembling some of the earliest Japanese swords in existence.
Jūmonji yari (十文字槍)
Japanese word for a cross shaped spear
Ming period stirrups
Forged iron, swiveled stirrups with an entirely beaded frame and openwork platforms.
Zhūgénǔ (诸葛弩) or "cho-ku-nu"
Chinese word for a repeating crossbow
Repeating pellet crossbow stock
A very rare variety of the Chinese repeating crossbow that shoots large pellets.
Nakago (茎 / 中心)
Japanese word for the tang of a sword
Outstanding set of húdiédāo
A set of the rarer long and wide variety with very well-carved hilts and good overall finish.
Bāxiān (八仙), "Eight Immortals"
Eight figures from Chinese Daoist mythology.
Qing jiàn in later mounts
Qing period blade in very nicely made early 20th century mounts.
Southern Chinese húdiédāo set
Wide-bladed pair with eccentric hilt features. Complete with scabbard.
Chinese matchlock pistol
The first of its kind I've ever seen on the market.
Chinese military saber marked 1876
Southern Chinese officer style saber with later inscription H.Hunt 1876.
Ceremonial arrowhead
Made of iron, shaped as a gourd, with silver overlay.
Chinese village dāo
A simple utilitarian weapon, probably made for rural martial artists or militia.
Qing páidāo (shield knife)
With Tongzhi reign marks, corresponding to the year 1863.
Chinese jade hilted knife
With fine quality jade hilt and baitong mounted scabbard.
Late Qing tuánliàn jiàn
Long yet light, with unusual flower-shaped iron guard.
Hǔyádāo (虎牙刀), "tiger tooth sword"
Mandarin name of a Chinese-edged weapon with a 1:1 hilt-blade ratio.
Large Ming tuánliàn jiàn
A large piece dating from the Ming-Qing transition period of the 17th century.
Back to antique Chinese arms
With Paris behind me, let's return to the genre that initially started my passion for antique arms.