Ornament for Knife Handle

Ornament for Knife Handle

Theodor de Bry

1563

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From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a tall, narrow design carved into a knife handle. At the top, two winged shapes frame a scene of people under a tree. Below, a band of swirling patterns and leaves fills the rest of the space. The whole thing is black and white, with sharp, detailed lines. The word "AMOR" is written near the bottom, which likely ties the scene to love or romance. The tiny figures and intricate patterns suggest this was meant to be a decorative object, not just a tool. If you like this kind of detailed craftsmanship, look up engraving next.

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