.jpg?w=1)
拍品專文
This exquisite small knife is one of a very small group of items dating from the 16th century intricately carved in ivory with dense floral and palmette designs. The other published items are a buckle in the al-Sabah collection, two mirrors in the Topkapi palace, and a small group of daggers and hilts, one in the collection of Rifaat Sheikh al-Ard, the others in the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum (Esin Atil (ed.): The Age of Sultan Sülayman the Magnificent, exhibition catalogue, Washington D.C., 1987, nos73, 74, 75 and 92, pp.139-140 and 158-9, together with notes 91-93, p.174). The intricacy of the carving here and the scale and type of motifs used in the design place this small knife clearly in the same group.
Its use is not so clear. The form of the blade is identical to that of a large knife or small sword dating from the 16th century in the Stibbert Museum, Florence, but much smaller (Henry Russell Robinson: Il Museo Stibbert a Firenze, vol.1, Milan, n.d., no.209, p.209 and pl.60a). It is very thickened along the spine, indicating that it is specially made for pressing down. It does not have the same form as the knives known to have been made for sharpening pens. The downward pointing tip would make it impossible for food. Its form would make is suitable for circumcision, which is certainly a possible use. If so, it would be likely to have been made for use in the Sünnet Odasi in the Topkapi.
Its use is not so clear. The form of the blade is identical to that of a large knife or small sword dating from the 16th century in the Stibbert Museum, Florence, but much smaller (Henry Russell Robinson: Il Museo Stibbert a Firenze, vol.1, Milan, n.d., no.209, p.209 and pl.60a). It is very thickened along the spine, indicating that it is specially made for pressing down. It does not have the same form as the knives known to have been made for sharpening pens. The downward pointing tip would make it impossible for food. Its form would make is suitable for circumcision, which is certainly a possible use. If so, it would be likely to have been made for use in the Sünnet Odasi in the Topkapi.