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Dagger and
handle: length; 15 cm, handle width; 3.6
cm, handle thickness; 0.3 cm Hilt:
length; 13 cm, bronze inlay width; 4.85
cm, thickness; 0.65 cm Total length: 16
cm
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This is an ornate and unusual knife set. The
date when it was made was probably no earlier than the
late Western Han, because the design and
representation of the human forms on one side of the
jade handle is in the late Western Han style. The
coiling dragon form of the gilt bronze decoration on
the hilt is also in the Han style. The dragon design
on the hilt itself, however, is in the late Spring and
Autumn style. Thus, the inside of an old block of jade
was carved out for a new purpose. The ends of this
rectangular hilt are wider than the body and similar
to a jade handle discovered in Honan province. Carved
on the center of the hilt are two curled-snout dragon
heads back to back along with a linear pattern, which
are also similar to jades unearthed from Honan and
Kiangsu. Dragon designs are also found on either end
of the hilt.
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