Lynn C. Thompson (American, 20th/21st c.) for Cold Steel, United States. Imperial Tai Pan knife designed in the distinctive “Tanto” style. The knife features a sturdy Damascus steel spear point blade fashioned in the traditional San Mai style. With a hard stainless steel core supported by two multilayered sheets of Damascus steel. The knife features a unique flattened oval cross section. The handle is cord wrapped over ivory colored ray skin. With the original black leather belt sheath. Numbered 113/500 along the guard.

Provenance: From the Estate of Horst Rechelbacher, Osceola, Wisconsin.

Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, was a pioneer in the field of safe and eco-friendly cosmetics. The same curiosity that led him to explore ways to improve the beauty industry led him to travel the world, collecting rare and beautiful objects as he went. This sale features selections from that lifetime of eclectic and inspired collecting, including furniture by Carlo Bugatti, Gabriel Viardot, and Josef Hoffman; artworks by artists ranging from Old Masters to Salvador Dali to Arman; an impressive collection of Indian sculptures; and much more. Be sure to explore our timed-only online auction of other fascinating objects from this collection that will be posted in mid-August.

Blade length: 7 in.
Overall length: 13 1/4 in.