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Chinese bronze spearhead formed as a crocodile

Image attached to ML.1-1992

An image of Weapon. Spearhead. Bronze spear head with a green patina, and mineral preserved organics in the socket. The blade appears as the tongue projecting from the jaws of a crocodile; possibly the gharial (Gavialis Gangeticus), commonly found in India and Burma. On the top of the head there is a rectangular projection pierced by a circular hole, and on each side of the socket there is a circular hole. Bronze, length 18 cm, — 220. Han Dynasty, or earlier (BC 206 - AD 220). Acquisition Credit: Lent to the museum by Helen H. L. Whittow (nee Malcolm).

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About this image

Weapon. Spearhead. Bronze spear head with a green patina, and mineral preserved organics in the socket. The blade appears as the tongue projecting from the jaws of a crocodile; possibly the gharial (Gavialis Gangeticus), commonly found in India and Burma. On the top of the head there is a rectangular projection pierced by a circular hole, and on each side of the socket there is a circular hole. Bronze, length 18 cm, — 220. Han Dynasty, or earlier (BC 206 - AD 220). Acquisition Credit: Lent to the museum by Helen H. L. Whittow (nee Malcolm).

Image data

  • Accession Number: ML.1-1992
  • Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
  • Photographer name: Mark Box
  • Image height: 287 pixels
  • Image width: 1024 pixels
  • Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.4 (Windows)
  • Filesize: 41.89kB
  • Exposure time: 1/20
  • ISO Speed: 50
  • Captured: 2011:12:20 13:57:06

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The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026) "Chinese bronze spearhead formed as a crocodile " Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-2736640095 Accessed: 2026-01-11 15:27:16

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-2736640095 |title=Chinese bronze spearhead formed as a crocodile |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-11 15:27:16|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/portfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/565/918/large_ML_1_1992_1_201201_mdb56_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Spearhead"
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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Chinese bronze spearhead formed as a crocodile </figcaption>
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