Design for Knife Handles with the Temptation of Adam and Eve and a Memento Mori Scene 1580 - 1600

This engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry, dated 1580-1600, presents two designs for knife handles, each richly adorned with allegorical figures. The left handle features the Temptation of Adam and Eve, referencing the biblical story of Genesis, while the right depicts a Memento Mori scene with a figure of Death. The intricate designs, with their combination of religious and symbolic elements, highlight the artistic style of the period and the enduring relevance of these themes in human history.