Fine Chinese sword mace Jian with silver and gold decoration

A very fine Chinese mace sword ‘Jian’. The hilt with gold and silver decoration to the iron mounts, the grip mound with cord. The square shaped guard heavily decorated with gold and silver designs, the four sided tapering blade with hollowed surfaces to create four sharp edges along its length. This is perhaps the finest example of this type we have encountered and compares favourably to examples held with the Palace Museum, Beijing. Showing signs of use. Circa 1800.