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Dagger and Scabbard
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineDagger and Scabbard (대모장식검 (玳瑁裝飾劍)), 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.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta Carroll, M.D., 1995.246
