Degen in schede van minister Jan van den Tempel 1939

This sword, together with its sheath, was made by an anonymous maker for minister Jan van den Tempel. The combination of materials is so interesting: gold against steel, the warmth of the handle versus the cold blade, all encased in a creamy, ivory sheath. It's a real material conversation. What I love is the tension between something functional and something purely decorative. On the sheath, the gilded decorations feel almost like a painterly flourish, like thick impasto in gold leaf. That contrast between the practical and the ornamental makes me think about craft and fine art, and how those categories get blurred. Looking at this sword, it reminds me of some of the work of contemporary artist Ron Nagle; he makes these tiny, precious sculptures that also seem to occupy a space between functionality and pure aesthetic pleasure. It’s like they’re having a conversation across time.