This unique knife was born from a reflection on the special place that the snake occupies in various cultures around the world. The association between the animal and the knife symbolizes the duality between the fear and the fascination it inspires. The sculpture on the miter represents a landscape of the primordial earth.
Model Specifics
Type: Knife
Weight: 182 grams
Materials :
Pommel: Argentium
Miter: Australian Opal (Coober Pedy), Lapis Lazuli and Coral
Dimensions:
Length: 260mm
Width: 48mm
Height: 35mm
Origin: Made in our workshop in Cordes-sur-Ciel in France
Accessories: Delivered with an acrylic support and a glass bell with its wooden support
Techniques Used
The miter stones were hand carved using diamond tools.
The pommel and bolster were first sculpted in wax and then made in Argentium using the lost wax casting technique.
The stages of sculpture, foundry, setting and polishing are carried out in our workshop.
Symbolic
The snake :
Ancient Egypt: The uraeus, or naja serpent (royal cobra), is an emblem of Isis, symbolizing sovereignty, knowledge and eternity.
South America: Among the Indians, the snake is associated with artistic creation.
India: The snake is a symbol of knowledge and protection of the souls of the deceased.
Prussia: Families harboring snakes were considered protected.
Ancient Greece: The serpent is linked to prophecy and divination.
Opal:
Orient: Associated with hope, opal protects from evil and places under divine protection.
Ancient Beliefs
Ophiomancy: Chaldean divination based on observing the movements of snakes to predict the future.
Ptolemy: Hunting serpents with engraved copper tablets and incantations.
Middle Ages: Use of formulas to stop snakes approaching homes.
Sources
CHGH: Jean CHEVALIER, Alain GHEERBRANDT, Dictionary of symbols , Paris, (c) R. Laffont, Collection “Bouquins”, 1989.
NIMO: Christiana NIMOSUS, Pierres et traditions , Paris, (c) Maisnie-Trédaniel, 1968.
GUBE: Angelo de GUBERNATIS, Zoological mythology or animal legends , Paris, (c) A. Durand and Peonne Laurier, 1874.
GAFF: MJ GAFFAREL, Unheard curiosity about the talismanic sculpture of the Persians. Horoscope of the patriarchs and reading of the stars , sl, sn, 1650.
COLL: Jacques-Albin-Simon COLLIN DE PLANCY, Dictionnaire infernal , Paris, H. Plon, 1863.
This knife, both an art object and a symbolic tool, captures the essence of the snake and its role in different cultures, offering a unique and fascinating piece
