This is ivory dagger and sheath are made in about 1360-1400 in Northern Italy, probably Venice. The dagger, surmounted by a crouching lion, is carved on the one side with a winged dragon, on the other with a centaur playing a lute. The front of the sheath is decorated with a bird and a lion, above, a man kneels before a seated female figure. The mounts are of later date.
Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’. The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded.

The function of such daggers is unclear. Elaborate and fragile handles were impractical for daggers, and it seems certain that they were never intended for use as such. Nevertheless, the fact that one face of the present sheath was left uncarved suggests that it was meant to be worn - a degree of practicality is taken into account. Daggers, hung at the belt, were an important part of male display.