Jade-Bamboo Knife
Full Description:
A Manchu-style eating knife made in China in the 19th century. The hilt is cleverly carved from a single piece of spinach-green jade in the form of bamboo. The blade has a single groove, and a silver bolster sits between the blade and the hilt.
The scabbard is carefully crafted from a single piece of hollow buffalo horn; both sides are carved with scenes of gardens with streams and bridges, small boats, and what appear to be a two water buffalo at the top of the back of the scabbard, and at the front, two men on another buffalo. Two figures are standing on a bridge, one greeting the other. There is also an elephant with a vase with plants on its back, a common rebus in China symbolising peaceful times. The scenes are reminiscent of the canals and gardens of the old town of Suzhou and may well refer to them.
A heavy silver locket sits at the top of the scabbard and is chased with floral designs over a stippled background, a carved dragon at the back holds silver suspension rings.