Silver scabbard

This sword scabbard is made of wood covered with silver sheets. These are folded around the wooden core and joined at the back, where a double thread of silver is soldered on as a reinforcement. The decorative wire spirals on the thread are also attached by soldering. The feather patterning is similar to that found on Sasanian helmets and daggers and is also known in Sasanian decorative arts

The scabbard would have been worn in an oblique position, suspended from the belt by two straps running through loops riveted on the back of two ‘P-shaped’ attachments. These are set at some distance from each other on the edge of the scabbard, and are connected to reinforced bands which encircle it. This double-locket suspension system dates the scabbard to the late Sasanian period.