Artwork Page for Knife Sheath

Details / Information for Knife Sheath

Knife Sheath

장도집

1100s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty

(918–1392)
Medium
Gilt silver (body) and brass (trefoil-shaped ring)
Measurements
length: 21.7 cm (8 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2022.38
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

This 12th-century silver-gilt knife sheath is meant to be a pendent to a belt as a luxury ornament.

Description

Made by rolling a flat piece of silver plate, this knife sheath is decorated on each side with oval panels, including two larger middle panels showing an image of rising dragons with ring-punched scales. The circular upper panels bear the image of seated phoenixes. The flat bottom is engraved with a pair of fish, symbolizing harmonious unity. The trefoil-shaped ring attached to the tip of the sheath allows a string to connect it as a pendant to a belt. In medieval Korea, a miniature sheath such as this was considered an important fashion item, especially for elite members of the ruling class.
A shiny, narrow, golden knife sheath with intricately carved designs and panels across the surface. The panels on each side of the top part of the sheath feature dragons, the panels in the middle feature phoenixes, and the smaller panels at the bottom feature fish. Attached to the side of the top of the sheath is a small trefoil-shaped brass ring.

Knife Sheath

1100s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Shop the CMA Store

    Shop More Art

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.