Knife Handle
1680-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This handle of a hunting knife is made by an unknown artist in Germany in ca. 1840-1850.
The ivory handle is carved with a grotesque horned head below which is a medallion with an ram skull in relief. It is distantly reminiscent of the work of Johann Michael Maucher (1645-after 1690), and at the same time recalls Japanese ivories. This mixture of sources, as well as the coarse carving, suggests it is in fact a nineteenth-century fake, probably made in Germany. It was formerly thought to be from about
1680-1720.
Two other ivory handles for hunting swords are in the V&A, one carved with groups of figures terminating in the head of a man wearing a helmet (2236-1855), the other formed of groups of superimposed animals (9039-1863).
The ivory handle is carved with a grotesque horned head below which is a medallion with an ram skull in relief. It is distantly reminiscent of the work of Johann Michael Maucher (1645-after 1690), and at the same time recalls Japanese ivories. This mixture of sources, as well as the coarse carving, suggests it is in fact a nineteenth-century fake, probably made in Germany. It was formerly thought to be from about
1680-1720.
Two other ivory handles for hunting swords are in the V&A, one carved with groups of figures terminating in the head of a man wearing a helmet (2236-1855), the other formed of groups of superimposed animals (9039-1863).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Handle of a hunting knife, ivory, carved with a grotesque horned head, probably Germany, ca. 1840-1850 |
| Physical description | Carved ivory handle of a hunting knife with a grotesque horned head below which is a medallion with a ram's skull in relief. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Acquired from the Museo Collegio Romano, Rome in 1859. |
| Historical context | Two other ivory handles for hunting swords are in the V&A, one carved with groups of figures terminating in the head of a man wearing a helmet (2236-1855), the other formed of groups of superimposed animals (9039-1863) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This handle of a hunting knife is made by an unknown artist in Germany in ca. 1840-1850. The ivory handle is carved with a grotesque horned head below which is a medallion with an ram skull in relief. It is distantly reminiscent of the work of Johann Michael Maucher (1645-after 1690), and at the same time recalls Japanese ivories. This mixture of sources, as well as the coarse carving, suggests it is in fact a nineteenth-century fake, probably made in Germany. It was formerly thought to be from about 1680-1720. Two other ivory handles for hunting swords are in the V&A, one carved with groups of figures terminating in the head of a man wearing a helmet (2236-1855), the other formed of groups of superimposed animals (9039-1863). |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4712-1859 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 27, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
