Accession Number
1985/2.48

Title
Ladies Knife

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
19th century

Medium & Support
metal

Dimensions
5 11/16 x 7/8 in. (14.3 x 2.1 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Subject matter
It was used with Korean traditional ornaments worn by women. But in emergency, it was used for self-protection or attack. This traditions happened in Gorye dynasty and became general in Joseon Dynasty.

Physical Description
It is a knife made of silver. The sword blade was made of steel. Floral design was printed on the knob and Deer and bamboo was printed on the cover.

This small knife is worn by a man. The handle and sheath are decorated with ten symbols of longevity against ring-punched background. The other side features engravings of plantains and lotus buds. Plantain symbolizes resuscitation from death and is one of the Eight Treasures of Taoism. The lotus flower symbolizes purity and the law of cause and effect as it emerges from mud (dirt) and bears seeds.

[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2017) p. 285]

 

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
knife

Additional Object Classification(s)
Arms and Armor

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
deer
hand knives
knife
silverware
women (female humans)