A slide like this one was attached to the flat back side of a scabbard. When the scabbard was stuck under the belt of the owner, the slide hooked around the belt making it impossible for the scabbard to slide down to the ground. The decoration of this one consists of a very fine engraving of C-scrolls and whorls. The carver used the skin of the stone to make it look older but the decoration is not comparable to slides which were made during the Warring States and Western Han periods (See Quick Find 7320). We date this scabbard slide to the Song period (960 - 1279AD) when there was a great demand for antique jades and many archaistic pieces were created. At the same time we realize that it may also be of later date. Acquired in Hong Kong in 1991. Length 7.9 cm. Width 1.9 cm. Depth 0.89 cm. Weight 20.6 grams.