Tibetan Nomad’s Knife with Coral & Turquoise

This fine knife and sheaf or scabbard would have been worn by a nomad in eastern Tibet. The scabbard of wood or horn that has been partly clad in silver and hammered and engraved steel inset with gilded, scrolling plaques, a mid-section of shagreen, and set with two large coral cabochons and a large turquoise cabochon on top, and two small coral cabochons on the side, all in high-grade box settings which emerge from bands of ‘pearled’ silver.

The stones and quality of the metalwork mark this knife out as a fine piece so it would have been reserved for use during ceremonial occasions and festivals.

The short blade is of single-edged steel that comes to a point.

A leather strap is attached to the sheaf and this is decorated with three silver bosses (loss to one) and a copper boss.

The knife  has a superb patina; its significant age is obvious.