Knife and sheath: M.26 & A-1933

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Handle maker: Unknown
Cutler: Unknown
Silversmith: Unknown

Entities

Description

Ivory, steel, leather and silver; the knife with steel blade and ivory handle carved with Venus and Cupid; the leather sheath with silver mounts

Ivory, steel, leather and silver; the knife has a broad double-sided steel blade which tapers to a rounded point. The ivory handle is carved in the form of Venus and Cupid. She rests against a pillar whilst holding an arrow in her left hand and Cupid's hand in her right. Behind them rises a spray of scrolling foliage, and they stand on a plinth decorated with scrolls. The ferrule is of steel with decorative borders. The sheath is of leather mounted in silver at the rim and base, and is of slender triangular shape. Both mounts have scroll cut edges and are engraved, chased and punched with rocaille decoration.

Notes

History note: Not known before testator

Legal notes

Given by A.A. de Pass, 1933

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1933) by de Pass, Alfred A.

Dating

17th Century, Early#
Circa 1600 CE - Circa 1650 CE

Note

The style of the sheath and the decoration on the silver mounts suggest it was made in the early to mid 18th century, so it is either a replacement for an earlier sheath or a later addition.