Village Chief's Knife. Tibetan Buddhist. Traditional work of great prestige. Rural, mountain regions, typically Tibetan. 19th or beginning of 20th century, before the Chinese invasion, 26 cm x 2.5 cm x 2 cm. Sturdy and remarkable for its combination of nine materials. Iron of the blade and handle of one piece. Yak bone handle, beautiful patina. Scabbard silver carved on four sides. Belt attachment and nails securing corals in copper. Fine-grained shagreen (sharkskin) in Chinese influenced upholstery. One turquoise and two corals, the preferred stones of the Tibetans, fixed on the front of the sheath like a ring's bezel. Wood interior of the scabbard. Adhesive paste to fix the stones in place. Museum piece of ethnographic interest. Very good condition. A few dents from wear on the back. No restoration carried out or needed.