Lightboxes
Cart
alb3664143

Imperial Knife with Sheath

Imperial Knife with Sheath. Culture: Chinese. Dimensions: L. with sheath 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); L. without sheath 10 9/16 in. (26.8 cm); W. 15/16 in. (2.4 cm); Wt. 3.5 oz. (99.2 g); Wt. of sheath 4.9 oz. (138.9 g). Date: 18th century. This elegant knife was intended as a personal accessory for a member of the imperial court, rather than as a weapon. It is part of a group of several known examples, all of which are similar in shape, size, and richness, but with each having some differences, particularly in the style and decoration of the sheaths. The gilding of their blades is a distinctive and highly unusual feature; the steel beneath the gold is purposely roughened to create a mottled, naturalistic surface to contrast with the refined precision of the accompanying hilt and sheath. At the base of the spine of the blade, the Qianlong mark is inlaid in gold letters: <i>Qianlong nian zhi</i> (Made in the Qianlong reign). The decoration on the sheath imitates European gold and enamel work.
Share
pinterestPinterest
twitterTwitter
facebookFacebook
emailEmail

Add to another lightbox

Add to another lightbox
add to lightbox print share
Do you already have an account? Sign in
You do not have an account? Register
Buy this image
Title:
Imperial Knife with Sheath
Caption:
Imperial Knife with Sheath. Culture: Chinese. Dimensions: L. with sheath 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); L. without sheath 10 9/16 in. (26.8 cm); W. 15/16 in. (2.4 cm); Wt. 3.5 oz. (99.2 g); Wt. of sheath 4.9 oz. (138.9 g). Date: 18th century. This elegant knife was intended as a personal accessory for a member of the imperial court, rather than as a weapon. It is part of a group of several known examples, all of which are similar in shape, size, and richness, but with each having some differences, particularly in the style and decoration of the sheaths. The gilding of their blades is a distinctive and highly unusual feature; the steel beneath the gold is purposely roughened to create a mottled, naturalistic surface to contrast with the refined precision of the accompanying hilt and sheath. At the base of the spine of the blade, the Qianlong mark is inlaid in gold letters: Qianlong nian zhi (Made in the Qianlong reign). The decoration on the sheath imitates European gold and enamel work.
Technique/material:
Steel, lapis lazuli, turquoise, pink stone, gold, enamel
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
2475 x 4400 px | 31.2 MB
Print size:
21.0 x 37.3 cm | 8.2 x 14.7 in (300 dpi)
Keywords:
ARMS AND ARMOR • ASIA • CASES • CHINA • ENAMELS • GOLD • IRON ALLOY • IRON AND IRON ALLOY • IRON AND STEEL • IRON_AND_STEEL • KNIVES • LAPIS LAZULI • METAL • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • ROCK • ROCKY • SHEATHS • STEEL INDUSTRY • STEEL • STEEL, LAPIS LAZULI, TURQUOISE, PINK STONE, GOLD, ENAMEL • STONE • STONES • TURQUOISE