Dagger with Sheath
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Steel, wood, silver, silver wire
Dimensions
H. with sheath 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm); H. without sheath 9 5/16 in. (23.7 cm); H. of blade 6 in. (15.2 cm); W. 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm); Wt. 3 oz. (7.6 g); Wt. of sheath 1.5 oz. (42.5 g)
Classification
Daggers
Culture
Philippine, Mindanao
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.871a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Dagger with Sheath* from 19th-century Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, exemplifies the region's renowned tradition of finely crafted edged weapons. Measuring just 9¾ inches with its sheath, the dagger features a steel blade about 6 inches long, paired with a hilt of wood adorned with silver and silver wire Weighing a mere 3 ounces without its 1.5-ounce sheath its compact form belies its lethal purpose, while the luxurious materials suggest it served not only as a weapon but also as a symbol of status among warriors. In Mindanao, a culturally diverse area influenced by Is...