Abstract
Purpose.
This article presents the exemplar of Chinese bladed weapons from the collection of the Nizhny Novgorod State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). Previously, this subject has not been the object of scientific analysis. In the course of the research, features of blade’s design have been analyzed in order to clarify the origin and time of its creation.
Results.
The blade with scabbard from the collection of the Nizhny Novgorod State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve (inventory numbers of items – GOM-7100-1 and GOM-7100-2) was found during storage verification. The source of the acquisition by the museum is unknown. The scabbard is made of two wooden planks covered with black leather. The leather is damaged in places. It is attached to the sword belt with a yellow metal hanger (brass or bronze). The blade is in good condition, without rust, with darkening in places. The cross-guard is an oval plate with a massive wide rim. At the base of the blade, on both sides, a scene common in China in the second half of the 19th century is engraved: a dragon playing with a pearl.
Conclusion.
The analysis of the blade's design features allows to confidently identify it with the Chinese saber
niuweidao
牛尾刀. The sabre and scabbard appear to be genuine. It is assumed that the sabre and scabbard are trophies brought back by Russian troops in 1901 from China, where they participated with other colonial countries in suppressing the Boxer Movement 義和團運動 (1899–1901). Also, it is possible that the saber was purchased at the Nizhny Novgorod fair, where other goods from the Qing Empire were brought in addition to tea.