A LATE 19TH CENTURY VIETNAMESE KIEM OR SWORD, 57.5cm double fullered blade chiselled with smoke and flames at the forte, characteristic white metal mounted hilt decorated with stylized dragons and dragon heads, polished horn grip carved with foliage and stylized calligraphy, contained in its white metal mounted wooden scabbard decorated to match. Crushing to hilt mounts. Virtually identical to the typical Chinese jian.