A very rare Chinese saber guard dating from the height of the Qing dynasty.

44.4 cm
27 cm
Base 13 mm
At widening 9 mm
Near tip 6 mm
Widest at base 52 mm
At widening 47.5 mm
Near tip 16.5 mm
Inside diameter 26 mm
Outside diamter 34 mm
771 grams
China
Iron
16th to 18th century
Spearheads and especially Chinese spearheads are very hard to date because styles changed little over time, plus we lack a group of spears with good provenance which we can use as a dating benchmark. The patina on exposed parts like the socket is usually only a function of storage conditions, not of actual age.
Nevertheless, here I have a spearhead that I think could be late Ming (1368-1644) by virtue of its pronounced shape.
It is heavy, well-made for Chinese work and probably a military issue. The base is rounded, then follows a "waisted" area, after which the spearhead tapers gradually towards its tip. Both edges ahead of the waisted area are sharp.
The head is forged on a socket with two multi-facetted bolsters. The cross-section above and in-between the bolsters is octagonal, while the socketed end in the bottom is round in cross-section.
Some nicks in the edge, possibly from actual use. Mild pitting a deep dark brown patina throughout.





Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.
A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.
A what? Yes exactly. An extremely rare piece, the only example I am aware of in published collections at…