Here're some links to images of Chinese dragons.
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/images-...gonRampent.jpg
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/images-...dragonroof.jpg
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/images-2/chineseleili.jpg
http://www.crystalinks.com/chinadragons.html
Chinese dragons have deer antler-like horns, a large bulbous nose with a pair of long feelers, a generous beard and 'sideburns', and a high forehead. Long and lanky, with 4 limbs with large claws. No wings. Sometimes, they have a flame-like tail.
So I don't think its a Chinese dragon on the hilt. In fact, I thought the dragon was wearing a European crown. Dutch influence?
In the 2nd hilt, the floral motifs are arranged in framed panels, which reminds me of baroque European aesthetics. However, I thought the floral motifs are distinctively N. Coast Java/Madura/Bali though, with that 'flame' or 'leaf' motif. See motif on hilt which I believe comes from coastal Java.
The swastika panels at the bottom of both hilts do have some Chinese look to it, like the pierced-through panels under the eaves of the roof in some Chinese architecture. But then again, the swastika probably originated from India.
I think Chinese influences exist in the keris arts. The best example I know is of a Javanese keris with Chinese lacquer work on the sheath, depicting a Chinese house, a couple of Chinese people and a Chinese pine tree (ya, how many 'Chinese' am I going to use here
). This keris graces the cover of Karsten Jensen's keris book.
The other example is in the Invincible Keris. There is a Malay keris with an ivory parrot hilt. That scabbard has Chinese mother-of-pearl inlaid square motifs and striped sheath stem.
Another example I remember is the 'curly-worly' Chinese cloud motif sometimes found on textiles and the repoussed silver covering of pedang hilts coming from Cirebon. Anyone has pictures?
The last possible example I remember is in John's collection. Its an ivory hilt with deep carved floral panels. Maybe if John would post pictures?
