art-of-swords:Chinese ‘Imperial Tribute’ Dress Sword of European DesignDated: circa 1795
art-of-swords:Chinese ‘Imperial Tribute’ Dress Sword of European DesignDated: circa 1795Place of Origin: Guangzhou (Canton)Measurements: total length 98.5 cm (2 ft 3 ¾ inch total width of the handle 11.5 cm (4 ½ inch)The tapering partly-blued steel blade comes with engraved gold foil Chinese and Western-style motifs including prunus sprays, a crown, a military trophy, Britannia, and the coat of arms of the British Monarchy including the motto: “Honni Soit Qui Mal Y Pense and Dieu et Mon Droit”.Having a spurious maker’s signature Gill’s warranted, the hilt is composed of a lobed gilt-bronze guard, grip, scrolling quillons, C-shaped handle and pommel decorated overall with chased gadrooning and bellflowers and polychrome paste ornament.The sheath richly decorated with gold foil ornaments of musical trophies on a royal blue basse taille enamel ground the three gilt bronze mounts chased with foliate scrolls and inset with rich multicoloured paste ornament. To date, this is the only recorded example of a dress-sword manufactured in China based entirely on elements of European design.This piece is one of the rarest of all Chinese art objects derived from a Western model. The Qing Dynasty court had always been open to European influences in the decorative arts, initially in furniture and ceramic design, later in metalwork including watches, snuff boxes, and most importantly elaborate cases for clocks and automata influenced by models imported in large quantities from England in the second half of the 18th century.Source: Copyright © 2013 ArtSolution sprl. and participating galleries -- source link