Design for Sword or Dagger Handles 1580 - 1600

Theodor de Bry's "Design for Sword or Dagger Handles" (1580-1600) showcases two intricate designs for weaponry. Both feature delicate floral patterns, including stylized vines, leaves, and buds, with whimsical motifs like butterflies and bees interspersed throughout. Each handle is crowned with a female figure, the left adorned with a warrior woman and the right featuring a mythical creature with wings and a fish tail. These highly detailed drawings provide a glimpse into 16th-century design trends for decorative elements on swords and daggers.