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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
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This is a saber from the Tibetan plateau region of Western China. The blade is high quality, but the scabbard is quite plain compared to Tibetan things one normally sees.
Josh http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...rrent=00-1.jpg http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...rrent=01-3.jpg http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...current=07.jpg |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: College Park, MD
Posts: 186
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I just can't figure out why I am seeing so many of these all of a sudden. It seems that either someone is presently scouring Qinghai for swords for resale, or someone is putting together old blades with new hilts.
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
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Qinghai is being scoured for swords. Apparently the "Warriors of the Himalayas" catalogue created a huge market and pushed up the prices just as it was becoming easier to travel in the region. I have seen some pieces that make me wonder though. If this picture comes through (I am having some format problems), can you please let me know if you think it is new work or old? It is one I recently decided not to buy.
Josh |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
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Great blade Josh, but i think the scabbard leather & timber looks rather fresh to my eyes?
Intersting one that you didnt buy, the Turquise has the rather an unusual colour as per are past discusians re. Howlite & yet again carnelian beads have been used as well. I do like the metal work though. i must say other than hundreds of kukri kukri , dozens of kora & a few Bhutan swords the rest of the Himalayen pieces are not something I am expierienced with. Spiral |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
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Well for the one I didn't get, I was mostly wondering about the style in general. The parallel lines in the silver rather than flowing scrollwork is something I have only seen recently. It either is from a region that just opened up, or it is a contemporary from of metalwork. I have seen allot of it recently. Perhaps it is a technique that was used authentically in the 20th C. and was not collected? I see some age, just not allot.
On the saber I did buy, the leather is in very good condition, but does not look as new in person. Also the horn handle scale is missing a piece on the side I didn't photograph. I do not think it is a refurbished blade, or at least not recently. Josh |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
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Here is the side of the handle that looks older.
Josh http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...rrent=05-1.jpg |
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