Italian Dagger
Sardinia (?), Italy
Late 18th - Early 19th century (ca. 1800)
Steel, horn, brass, nacre
Blade: 19,7cm
Hilt & Blade: 30,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2020
Collection Number: 140

An old dagger from Southern Italy, most likely from the Island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea. The dagger has a straight double- edged, spear- shaped steel blade with a ricasso present at the base. The blade transitions into a central ridge with double fullers on either side. Highly decorated in floral engraved line work of flowers and vine flora from the ricasso all the way to the point of the blade. Spherical steel bolster with undercurled hand guard. The hilt is bovine horn, fluted with nacre inlays set in a red resin. In between inlays, it is decorated in brass tack. The reverse side of the knife is plain. It is missing its sheath and the ferrule, which would have likely been silver. An old dagger, dated to around 1800, showing Southern European styling and interesting nacre designs.

• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/35160

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