Ceremonial sword sheathed in scabbard. Gold and white-colored metal is inscribed with "Fletcher Webster Secretary of Legation / to / Elisha Kent Kane Physician to the U.S. Embassy to China" on verso near hilt. A shield is welded to the scabbard on the obverse, near the hilt. The three-sided blade is engraved with sunbursts and floral arrangements. Engraved on the widest side of the blade, starting from the hilt, are a sunburst, geometric patterns, the signature "N.P. Ames / Cutler / Springfield," and an urn of flowers. One side of the crossguard is hinged, and the other side is wave-shaped and adorned with a bas-relief eagle and stars. The hilt is also decorated with stars and arrows, and the grip is a coiled snake, whose head rests on the pommel.