Chinese sword breaker I hope it's real

josh stout · 16th July 2010, 03:37 AM

I just acquired this on eBay, and it looks genuine. I have never seen one so nice.
Josh

Lew · 16th July 2010, 04:17 AM

Josh

I was watching that one but I am always suspicious when it comes to buying Chinese weapons with so many replicas out there. It looks good though congrats.

Vaarok · 16th July 2010, 05:09 AM

I'd be very curious to see, more clearly, what look like inscriptions on the blade. I get a Thai vibe from it, but I've got a friend who's deeply into collecting Thai weapons, so I might just be hallucinating.

Nathaniel · 16th July 2010, 06:14 AM

Interesting piece there Josh. I'm not expert, but it looks nice. I don't know about Thai, Varook, but always hard to say as there where so many Chinese communities outside of China and Chinese influence rubbed off in many ways through out Asia ...there are a lot of Asian's who have some Chinese blood in them from one or both sides of the family. A lot of the ethnic Chinese smiths in SEA. Thanks for sharing Josh

KuKulzA28 · 16th July 2010, 07:24 AM

I'm pretty new to these... Could someone please tell me, what's the difference between the "sword-breakers" and the thin "stick-maces"? Thanks.

josh stout · 16th July 2010, 05:27 PM

I use the term “sword breaker” as a term for its function. Technically this is a jian, with a different inflection than “jian” the two edged sword. Jian have a square cross section. Other terms are “bian” or an “iron whip”, which seems to refer to round cross sectioned sword breakers, and “taiji” or iron ruler for rectangular ruler like weapons, often with Chinese inch marks.

I am worried because my Chinese friends say it is a fake. I am hoping they are wrong, but usually they are correct.

A South East Asian origin is an interesting hypothesis. I don’t see anything that is clearly not Chinese, but then again Chinese sword breakers are almost never that ornate. It may be why my friends are doubtful. Often Chinese influenced things from the SEA region will be more ornate than originals. I will see if there is any way to tell when I get it. I don’t think there are any inscriptions.

There was a time when the Chinese liked fake antiques to look as new as possible. Then there was a time when they were ham handed with fake patinas that you could spot from a mile away. Now they seem to have learned the art of carful distressing and aging of materials in a way that is making it tough to evaluate authenticity. The trickiest examples are often then sold through some of the less careful Western dealers.
Josh

16th July 2010, 03:37 AM	#1
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Chinese sword breaker I hope it's real I just acquired this on eBay, and it looks genuine. I have never seen one so nice. Josh Attached Images

16th July 2010, 04:17 AM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Josh I was watching that one but I am always suspicious when it comes to buying Chinese weapons with so many replicas out there. It looks good though congrats.

16th July 2010, 05:09 AM	#3
Vaarok Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 28	I'd be very curious to see, more clearly, what look like inscriptions on the blade. I get a Thai vibe from it, but I've got a friend who's deeply into collecting Thai weapons, so I might just be hallucinating.

16th July 2010, 06:14 AM	#4
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Interesting piece there Josh. I'm not expert, but it looks nice. I don't know about Thai, Varook, but always hard to say as there where so many Chinese communities outside of China and Chinese influence rubbed off in many ways through out Asia ...there are a lot of Asian's who have some Chinese blood in them from one or both sides of the family. A lot of the ethnic Chinese smiths in SEA. Thanks for sharing Josh

16th July 2010, 07:24 AM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	I'm pretty new to these... Could someone please tell me, what's the difference between the "sword-breakers" and the thin "stick-maces"? Thanks.

16th July 2010, 05:27 PM	#6
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I use the term “sword breaker” as a term for its function. Technically this is a jian, with a different inflection than “jian” the two edged sword. Jian have a square cross section. Other terms are “bian” or an “iron whip”, which seems to refer to round cross sectioned sword breakers, and “taiji” or iron ruler for rectangular ruler like weapons, often with Chinese inch marks. I am worried because my Chinese friends say it is a fake. I am hoping they are wrong, but usually they are correct. A South East Asian origin is an interesting hypothesis. I don’t see anything that is clearly not Chinese, but then again Chinese sword breakers are almost never that ornate. It may be why my friends are doubtful. Often Chinese influenced things from the SEA region will be more ornate than originals. I will see if there is any way to tell when I get it. I don’t think there are any inscriptions. There was a time when the Chinese liked fake antiques to look as new as possible. Then there was a time when they were ham handed with fake patinas that you could spot from a mile away. Now they seem to have learned the art of carful distressing and aging of materials in a way that is making it tough to evaluate authenticity. The trickiest examples are often then sold through some of the less careful Western dealers. Josh