1) Dao, 13 3/4 inches overall, with an 8 1/2 inch, lightly engraved drop point blade with thin triple fullers. The hilt consists of a 1 3/8 inch wide bead decorated silver collar, connecting the wood block the blade sits in to a smooth cylindrical ivory grip. With a hardwood and silver sheath, adorned with hammered twisted wire decorations and fitted with a suspension cord. 2) Dao, configured as #1 with a 17 inch overall length, 11 1/4 inch blade, and a 2 1/4 inch hilt collar. Provenance: The William Ashby Collection

Both are good, with spotting and pitting on the blade, some age cracking of the ivory, and mild dents on the silver. The throat section of sheath #1 is loose. The ivory has an attractive aged grain and color, and the silver shows a mixed antique patina.