Magnificent rare Vietnamese Straight sword Kiem with elephant molar hilt and silver mounts

A wonderful high quality sword from the Nguyen Dyansty of Imperial Vietnam. The more common form of vietnamese sword is the curved variety based on the Dao of China, known to collectors as a ‘guom’. This rarer straight form is generally known as a ‘kiem’ and is is related to the Jian straight sword of China. This example is splendidly decorted and likely for a higher ranking member of court. The hilt is mounted with a massive single block of shaped elephants molar tooth to create a grip with a most striking appearnce. The mounts to the sword are silver throughout and decorated in high relief with designs centred around the dragon or ‘rong/long’ one of the most sacred symbols to the Vietnamese. The scabbard decorated also with superb quality mother of pearl shell inlay which is further engraved and coloured. The original steel blade thin and needle like, mounted to the forte with a small silver mount. The sword retaining an original decorative silk embroidered pendant with tassels. A magnificent and rare sword dating to the 19th century. In good condition, some denting, the scabbard tip pushed in and minor pearl loss. southern asia, far east