China, probably Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. This is a carved stone scabbard slide with a bas relief tiger. The tiger is shown from the side, in a dynamic, leaping pose. The stone is a grey-green with small brown-black inclusions. This is the simpler form of the scabbard slide, consisting of just an enclosed aperture; Trousdale (1975) classifies this shape as Form II, Profile Type A(2). Form II is the rare form of scabbard slides in China, and most of the excavated examples were found in the northwest of the country. Although stone scabbard slides stopped being utilitarian objects around the first century CE, they continued to be produced for centuries afterwards. Size: 2.45" L x 1" W x 1.7" H (6.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 4.3 cm)

The scabbard slide was invented in the steppes of the southern Ural Mountains 2500 years ago, developed the manage the long iron equestrian sword. In China, nearly all of these objects are made from "jade" in the widest sense; elsewhere, there are also examples in bronze, lacquered wood, gold, and ivory. The purpose of these objects was forgotten until the 20th century, when some were scientifically excavated from undisturbed archaeological contexts. Now we know that the scabbard slide was attached, using silk thread or a thin strip of metal, to a flat or ribbed part of the scabbard, facing away from the body and generally at the balance point. A belt, usually of leather, would go through the slide. Trousdale (1975) suggests that the scabbard slide was the sole device used for suspending a sword in China for six hundred years. The swords that are buried with these jade ornaments are ceremonial or presentation swords and belong to noblemen -- in the Han Dynasty, for example, swords were worn by the Emperor and his officials in ceremonial or official dress.

c.f. Trousdale, W. 1975. The Long Sword and Scabbard Slide in Asia. Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, No. 17.

Provenance: Ex-Estate of John Piscopo. Mr. Piscopo was one of the largest collectors of ancient weapons in the US with a collection that spanned all cultures, all ages.

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#112868

Slight patina and wear; design of tiger is very clear.