Chinese Fisherman's Knife

Sleek honey-brown curve with a braided cord trailing behind it.

This fisherman's knife is from Dongbei or Shan Xi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is iron, wood & horn. Horn is a durable material often used for handles and fittings, since it can be heated, shaped and polished and holds up well in wet conditions. Smooth, slender body in glossy amber with a darker top and a sharply pointed tip. A twisted pale cord loops from the left end, and the lower edge is cleanly flat. It is 9 inches wide and 1.75 deep.

Polished, plump, and tied up neatly with a twist.