Knife with incense wood hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath, Knife with green glass hilt and wooden sheath wrapped with birch bark, Knife with green glass hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath (Horyuji treasures)

Knife with incense wood hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath, Knife with green glass hilt and wooden sheath wrapped with birch bark, Knife with green glass hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath (Horyuji treasures)

Knife with incense wood hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath, Knife with green glass hilt and wooden sheath wrapped with birch bark, Knife with green glass hilt and rhinoceros horn sheath (Horyuji treasures)

These decorated hand knives were ornaments attached to one's sash with colored braided cords worn by people of the high class. They were made in the same era as the treasures in the Shosoin, and are similar in style, technique and material. There are no examples of small swords among the Shosoin Treasures, making this one valuable.（「New Edition　Grace, Beauty and Inqenuity-Masterpices of the Museum of Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan　Vol.1」2003）