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Sword (Ral gri)

14th–16th century
Not on view
This is one of the best examples from a small group of rare early swords from Tibet. The hilt of this sword, including its grip, is made entirely of iron that has been embossed, chiseled, and then damascened in gold and silver. The guard, just below the grip, is in the form of a stylized mask with teeth and fangs, representing a protective deity or guardian figure. Straight double-edged blades of this type are seen more often on Chinese swords, but they were also used in Tibet.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword (Ral gri)
  • Date: 14th–16th century
  • Culture: Tibetan or Chinese
  • Medium: Iron, steel, gold, silver
  • Dimensions: L. 34 7/8 in. (88.6 cm); L. of blade 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm); W. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 2.5 oz. (978.1 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and Fletcher Fund, by exchange, 1995
  • Object Number: 1995.136
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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Nineteen Ornamental Fittings from a Horse Harness and an Ornamental Saddle Steel, Iron, gold, silver, copper, leather, saddle plate, Chinese or Tibetan; harness fittings, Tibetan
Nineteen Ornamental Fittings from a Horse Harness and an Ornamental Saddle Steel
saddle plate, Chinese or Tibetan; harness fittings, Tibetan
saddle plate, 17th–18th century; harness fittings, 15th–17th century
Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana), Naotane Taikei Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin (samé), silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, Japanese
Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)
Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Naotane Taikei
Decorator Engraving on blade attributed to Honjō Yoshitane
Fittings maker Sword guard (tsuba) inscribed by Yukinaka
blade, dated 1839; mounting, 19th century
Saddle, Iron, gold, silver, copper, leather, wood, textile, Eastern Tibetan or Chinese
Saddle
Eastern Tibetan or Chinese
possibly 17th–18th century
Rapier, Steel, gold, silver, iron, wood, German, possibly Saxony
Rapier
German, possibly Saxony
ca. 1600
Right Half of a Cantle Plate from a Saddle, Iron, gold, silver, Tibetan or Chinese
Right Half of a Cantle Plate from a Saddle
Tibetan or Chinese
16th–18th century

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