Sword with Scabbard
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Steel, iron, leather
Dimensions
H. with scabbard 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm); H. without scabbard 35 3/4 in. (90.8 cm); H. of blade 29 in. (73.7 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); W. of blade 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 12 oz. (1247.4 g); Wt. of scabbard 1 lb. 0.1 oz. (456.4 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
Chinese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.1629a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant Sword with Scabbard, in China during the 18th 19th century, the masterful blacksmithing of the Qing Dynasty era. Measuring 37¾ inches (95.9 cm) with itsabbard, the weapon features a steel blade nearly 29 inches (73.7 cm) long, paired with iron fittings and a leather sheath for protection and balance. Weighing just over 2 pounds (1247 g) without the scabbard, its proportions reflect a design optimized for both combat effectiveness and portability, highlighting the fusion of form and function in Chinese arms. In Chinese culture, swords held profound symbolic value beyond warfare—as...