A GILT-BRONZE, SILVER FILIGREE AND HARDWOOD KNIFE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the tapered sheath decorated in silver with a floral diaper pattern, between gilt-bronze mounts inset with red and green glass, one end suspending a loose ring below a green-stained bone rim, the hardwood handle terminating in a gilt-bronze pommel inset with red glass

Collection of Mary and George Bloch.

Two related examples are recorded, but where the handle is of rhinoceros horn, one from the Qing court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 211, the other from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection, illustrated by Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, fig. 108, and sold in these rooms, 8th October 2009, lot 1817.