Knife handle, cast and engraved bronze

The knife handle is closely related to one in the museum in Cordoba. It carries an engraved decoration whose elements can also be found on other Spanish bronzes. Its narrow sides feature palmette vines and arrow ornaments, while the broad sides are decorated with inscriptions in Kufi with the usual type of good wishes for the owner: “Perfect blessing and perfect joy and good luck and wellbeing. Perfect blessing and honor.”

A curious little detail that evidently has no relation to either the owner or the use of the knife is the decoration with confronted cats/lions and waterfowl in pairs that flank the inscription on one side.

At one end is a remnant of the iron blade, which was attached with a stud at the other.