Interesting Chinese Jian sword

[John]

Nice looking Jian but must acknowledge I know very little about them although there's a fair bit of interest. Provenanced Jians from private collections posted at forums seems to be so few and far in between.

Here's a Jian (with the 7 "stars") which I know next to nothing about except that it has been in the hands of the last owner for the past 10 years. The metal decorations of the scabbard/handle appear to be covered with white and red coating which I have had difficulty removing.