Renaissance Era Cruciform Dagger

Description: Straight, double-edged blade, a groove at the centre and two, lateral grooves at the tang; iron hilt, rectangular, knotted quillon-block, quillons bent toward the front and decorated with gilt bronze plaques depicting bas-relieved lion's heads; fig-shaped pommel with brass cap; wooden grip with engraved ring-nuts and longitudinal bands, all of brass with remains of gilding. Wooden scabbard with blue velvet covering (very worn), beautiful fire gilt brass mounts with bas-relieved decorations, at the cap the effigy of a male and a female figure, hugging, together with a child, two deities on the sides; a mask at the lower and the upper parts, all around floral motifs; at the chape is a mask at the upper part and another anthropomorphic figure at the bottom; the rear surface engraved with animals among floral decorations.

Dating: last quarter of the 16th Century

Dimensions: 43.5 cm.

Provenance: Germany

Source: www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-beautiful-renaissance-dagger-with-scabbard-251-c-8f3ccbf87c