**Originally Listed At $900**

East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. This is a handsome knife and sheath of sterling silver, brass, and steel with a stingray skin grip and leather strap. The knife has a broad, Bowie style blade with fuller grooves, thick spine, and upturned tip. A nickel-silver guard is surmounted atop the silver and ray skin grip, and a repousse silver cap with a peony motif covers the pommel end - projecting elegantly from the sheath. The sheath is comprised of a brass verso and repousse silver obverse face- dragons, and floral motifs hammered in relief decorate the surface, and a leather strap is attached to the brass loop for wearing on a belt. Men traditionally carried eating knives and chopsticks known as trousse sets in ornate sheaths like this as part of their formal dress. This knife blade is in the style of a hunting tool, rather than eating, but likely served a similar function as a belt adornment. Size (knife in sheath): 13" L x 1.5" W (33 cm x 3.8 cm); (blade only): 7.8" L x 1.3" W (19.8 cm x 3.3 cm); silver quality: 94.2% to 95.1%

Provenance: ex-John B. Kendrick II collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired 1965 to 1990; John B. Kendrick II was that son of John B. Kendrick, Wyoming governor and US senator

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#172401

Toning and patina to all silver areas, brass, and steel blade. Cracking to leather cord. Indentations to sheath and silver pommel. Blade is sharp. Overall good condition.