|
Date: |
|
Description: | [One of] Three Fire-steels (length 2 3/8 ins)*, apparently all by the same maker; hand-hold at back cut out of a thin sheet of steel (not cast) and engraved; in one case, in form of a hound, in another, of a leopard, and in the third of a crowned lion passant regardant; one side of second engraved "Fernando D. Silva"; one side of the first engraved "di A.Z.". [NB: one of fifty-seven specimens (nos. 367-423) believed to be all Spanish, some of considerable antiquity. Most of them were formerly in the Lavedan Collection. The series is remarkable for the excellent artistic design and the fineness of the steel-casting exhibited by many of the examples - these being special features of Spanish steels, which often bear names, initials, or armorial bearings, showing the pride taken in them by their owners.] [*No. 413 not on List A]. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ | Source: | Science Museum | Identifier: | 1937-682/414 | Go to resource |
|
|