Romantic Dagger With Symbols Of Death 19th Century European Work

ROMANTIC DAGUE with DEATH SYMBOLS
19th century European work 
Steel and gilt bronze
Total length: 26; L.: 7 cm
Blade length: 7.3 cm 

This romantic dagger, also called a dagger of virtue, is made of steel and gilded bronze worked in the round. The fuse is similarly decorated on both sides: a skull on the cruise topped by an owl - a bird associated with witchcraft, occultism and black magic, and whose cry, in Roman times, presaged imminent death, above which an hourglass and scythe - attributes of death and Cronos - can be seen. Baluster pommel.
The guard has two inverted quillons, made of shins. 
One side of the scabbard features a horned demon's head, a nude woman, a pair of torches and two intertwined snakes. The other side features, in place of the female figure, Saint André crucified on his X-shaped cross.
Slightly dull blade.

On base

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Code :5102