11th Sep, 2025 11:00
The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers Part 1
193
A BRONZE DAGGER HILT, DIAN KINGDOM, WARRING STATES-WESTERN HAN
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
Sold for €1,170
including Buyer's Premium
China, Yunnan Province, 5th-2nd century BC. Of elongated form, terminating in a pyramid-form pommel, the grip of lenticular section worked with raised studs and extending to a flaring guard with indented sockets divided by a central ridge in the form of an arrow.
Provenance: The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, obvious losses, signs of prolonged burial, encrustations, corrosion, traces of weathering, warping, dents, small cracks, and nicks. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite and azurite encrustations.
Weight: 323.9 g
Dimensions: Length 22 cm
The Dian Kingdom was an ancient civilization that flourished in what is now Yunnan Province in southwestern China, from around the 8th century BC until its annexation by the Han dynasty in 109 BC. It is best known through archaeological discoveries, particularly from sites like Shizhaishan and Lijiashan, which revealed a rich Bronze Age culture with unique artistic and technological traditions distinct from those of central China. The Dian people developed an advanced bronze-working tradition, producing ceremonial drums, tools, jewelry, and especially weapons such as spears, daggers, and ge (dagger-axes). These items often featured elaborate decorations, including inlaid stones, animal motifs, and complex openwork designs. Many bronze objects depict vivid scenes of warfare, hunting, and ritual, offering rare insight into the daily life and spiritual world of the Dian elite. Notably, some bronze sculptures show detailed human figures, suggesting a narrative or symbolic function.
Literature comparison:
Compare two closely related Dian bronze hilts dated to the Warring States period, from the private collection of Gary Lee Todd, Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China.
China, Yunnan Province, 5th-2nd century BC. Of elongated form, terminating in a pyramid-form pommel, the grip of lenticular section worked with raised studs and extending to a flaring guard with indented sockets divided by a central ridge in the form of an arrow.
Provenance: The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, obvious losses, signs of prolonged burial, encrustations, corrosion, traces of weathering, warping, dents, small cracks, and nicks. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite and azurite encrustations.
Weight: 323.9 g
Dimensions: Length 22 cm
The Dian Kingdom was an ancient civilization that flourished in what is now Yunnan Province in southwestern China, from around the 8th century BC until its annexation by the Han dynasty in 109 BC. It is best known through archaeological discoveries, particularly from sites like Shizhaishan and Lijiashan, which revealed a rich Bronze Age culture with unique artistic and technological traditions distinct from those of central China. The Dian people developed an advanced bronze-working tradition, producing ceremonial drums, tools, jewelry, and especially weapons such as spears, daggers, and ge (dagger-axes). These items often featured elaborate decorations, including inlaid stones, animal motifs, and complex openwork designs. Many bronze objects depict vivid scenes of warfare, hunting, and ritual, offering rare insight into the daily life and spiritual world of the Dian elite. Notably, some bronze sculptures show detailed human figures, suggesting a narrative or symbolic function.
Literature comparison:
Compare two closely related Dian bronze hilts dated to the Warring States period, from the private collection of Gary Lee Todd, Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China.
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