Knife with Sheath, Chopsticks, Pickle Spear and Toothpicks
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Steel, bone, ivory, brass, sharkskin, agate
Dimensions
Knife (a); L. with sheath 13 3/16 in. (33.5 cm); L. without sheath 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); W. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm); Wt. 3.1 oz. (87.9 g); sheath (b); Wt. 1.7 oz. (48.2 g); chopsticks (c, d); L. 10 5/16 in. (26.2 cm); W. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 0.4 oz. (11.3 g); pickle spear (e); L. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm); W. 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 0.2 oz. (5.7 g); earspoon (f); L. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); pick (g); L. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); pick (h); L. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm)
Classification
Knives
Culture
Chinese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.987a–h
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th–19th Chinese knife set, complete with sheath, chopsticks, pickle, earspoon, and toothpicks, exemplifies the ingenuity of Qing dynasty personal accessories. Crafted from diverse materials like steel for the blade, bone and ivory for handles, brass fittings, sharkskin for a secure grip, and agate, it measures about 13 inches long with its sheath. Weighing just a few ounces total, this compact kit (overall around 5.4 oz.) was designed for portability, fitting neatly into a traveler's pocket or pouch. In Chinese culture, such multi-tool eating and hygiene implements were pract...