Surgical Saw thumbnail 1
Surgical Saw thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Metalware, Room 116, The Belinda Gentle Gallery

Surgical Saw

ca. 1660-1670 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Brescia (made)

The ebony handle terminates in the head of an animal with outstretched tongue, and is inlaid with ivory and amber.The steel frame is chiselled and engraved with masks and floral ornamentation and ends in a monster's head. An owner's monogram can be seen.

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Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Ironwork
Health
Tools & Equipment
Object type
Surgical saw
Materials and techniques
Ebony inlaid with ivory and amber, chiselled and engraved steel
Ebony
Ivory
Amber
Steel
Inlay (Process)
Engraving (Incising)
Chiselling
Brief description
Surgical saw, ebony handle inlaid with ivory and amber, terminating in an animal head, the steel frame chiselled and engraved with masks and floral ornamentation, made in Italy, possibly Brescia, the handle probably of Indian origin, ca. 1660-1670
Physical description
The ebony handle terminates in the head of an animal with outstretched tongue, and is inlaid with ivory and amber.The steel frame is chiselled and engraved with masks and floral ornamentation and ends in a monster's head. An owner's monogram can be seen.
Marks and inscriptions
Owner's monogram
Gallery label
SURGICAL SAW Steel Italy (?Brescia); c.1660-70 1393-1888 The ebony handle terminates in the head of an animal with outstretched tongue, and is inlaid with ivory and amber. It is probably of Indian origin. The steel frame is chiselled and engraved with masks and floral ornamentation and ends in a monster's head. An owner's monogram can be seen.(07/1994)
Subjects depicted
Animals
Masks (Costume)
Floral Patterns
Monograms
Monsters
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
1393-1888

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O380101/surgical-saw-unknown/
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