Mes met hoornen heft met ovale doorsnede, een versmalde angel en een geprofileerd uitgesneden heftbeschermer c. 1590 - 1596

This knife with a horn handle is part of the Rijksmuseum collection. While the maker is unknown, its form speaks volumes. The overall design presents a study in contrasts. The blade, corroded and rough, sharply juxtaposes with the handle. Its dark, polished surface tapers elegantly, showing a refined sense of proportion. Consider how this contrast plays with our perceptions. The blade, typically the focus, appears almost secondary to the handle's smooth, inviting form. The knife challenges the traditional hierarchy of function over form. It asks us to consider the cultural and social values placed on craftsmanship and aesthetics. Is this knife merely a tool, or does it serve a deeper symbolic purpose, reflecting the values and priorities of its time? In the end, the interplay between the blade's raw utility and the handle's polished elegance invites contemplation on the nature of objects and their meanings.