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Sword (Ral gri)

17th–19th century
Not on view
This sword is a representative example of the most familiar Tibetan form, well made and of fairly good quality. The surface of the blade has a prominent hairpin pattern, an important characteristic of traditional Tibetan swords. The pattern consists of seven dark lines alternating with six light lines, caused by the repeated folding of two different types of iron, which were combined to make the blade during the forging process.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword (Ral gri)
  • Date: 17th–19th century
  • Culture: Tibetan
  • Medium: Iron, silver, gold, turquoise, wood, textile
  • Dimensions: L. 33 in. (83.8 cm); L. of blade 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm); W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); D. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); Wt. 2 lb. (907.2 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
  • Object Number: 36.25.1464
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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Pair of Stirrups (<i>yob</i>), Iron, gold, silver, Tibetan or Mongolian
Pair of Stirrups (yob)
Tibetan or Mongolian
possibly 12th–14th century
Sword (Ral gri), Iron, steel, gold, silver, Tibetan or Chinese
Sword (Ral gri)
Tibetan or Chinese
14th–16th century
Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense), Iron, leather, gold, silver, brass or copper alloy, textile, Tibetan or Mongolian
Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)
Tibetan or Mongolian
late 15th–early 17th century
Sword Guard, Iron, gold, silver, copper, Tibetan or Chinese
Sword Guard
Tibetan or Chinese
14th–15th century
Saddle (gser sga) Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983), Copper alloy, iron, gold, turquoise, wood, leather, textile (silk, cotton), Tibetan, Derge
Saddle (gser sga) Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983)
Tibetan, Derge
ca. 1943–47

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Sword (Ral gri) - Tibetan - The Metropolitan Museum of Art