Dagger Sheath with Gentleman Holding a Parrot
1532
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1532
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a tall, narrow metal plate with two scenes. The top half has a man in fancy clothes holding a parrot on his arm. He’s standing on a small patch of grass, and behind him are swirling patterns that look like clouds or smoke. The bottom half is filled with a detailed leafy vine design, almost like a border. The man’s outfit has lots of folds and texture, and the parrot is perched calmly. This kind of detailed metalwork was often used for decorative items like dagger handles. Look up Aldegrever, Heinrich to see more of his work.
