TWO CHINESE BRONZE SWORDS (JIAN), PROBABLY ZHOU DYNASTY OR EARLY WARRING STATES (1050-221 BC) AND THREE FURTHER SWORDS IN ZHOU DYNASTY STYLE in excavated condition and cast in one piece, the first with broad double-edged blade of hollow-diamond section, guard formed with a downward ogee moulding on each face, integral grip with two raised bands and shallow concave pommel; the second with hollow-diamond section blade (now in two pieces), with a brief inscription on one face at the forte, slender guard, tapering tubular grip and flanged pommel; the third with two raised bands on the grip (pommel missing); the fourth inlaid with gold coloured panels on the blade and the guard (tip missing); and the fifth with tang of rectangular section (pommel missing), the first: 55.5 cm overall (5) Provenance Anthony Dove (1938-2021)

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