The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Dagger and Scabbard

1800s

metal
Overall: 42.5 cm (16 3/4 in.); Hilt: 6.4 cm (2 1/2 in.); Scabbard: 31.2 cm (12 5/16 in.)
Gift of The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta Carroll, M.D. 1995.246
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

In traditional East Asian art, bats, used here as a decorative element of the brass mount, symbolize longevity and happiness.

Description

This is a typical 19th-century dagger and scabbard. The material and decoration were carefully chosen for their symbolic meaning. For example, tortoise shell was chosen as the main material for the scabbard for its association with the legend of ancient heroes, while bats, the main decorative element of the brass mount, symbolize longevity and happiness.
  • ?–1995
    The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta Carroll, M.D., New York, NY
    1995–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Dagger and Scabbard|url=false|author=|year=1800s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1995.246