A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle

A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle with a Female Head Two Grimacing Faces Flanked by Two Kneeling Naked Figures

A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle with a Female Head Two Grimacing Faces Flanked by Two Kneeling Naked Figures
A ‘cartouche’ or ‘shield’ with cross hatched design with a military trophy; swords, flags and spears behind
Ivory, old metal repair, fine colour and patina from use
France or Italy

Late 17th / Early 18th Century

SIZE: 13.5cm long, 3.5cm wide, 3cm deep - 5³⁄₈ ins long, 1³⁄₈ ins wide, 1¼ ins deep

Belgium CITES: 2025/BE01029/CE

A cutler was essentially a maker or seller of any artefact having a cutting edge. They purchased blades and employed a grinder to sharpen them and a furbisher to finish them, the hafts and handles and sheaths were bought in and the parts assembled and the finished product marketed by the cutler. Their wealth primarily derived from the bulk sales of swords, daggers and other small arms to Governments or Monarchs, and during the 15th and 16th centuries the demands of continual warfare yielded them a rich living.

Ex Private collection
Ex Finch and Co catalogue number 38, item number 19
Ex Private Irish collection

Belgium CITES: 2025/BE01029/CE

A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle with a Female Head Two Grimacing Faces Flanked by Two Kneeling Naked Figures