This is a breathtaking example of the form, most unusual and fascinating in its simple and elegant styling. While it is clearly naval, it rings 'Highland' in my view with its leaning toward the elemental character of the Scottish dirk with the cylindrical styling present. Though not exact of course, it just seems so to me.
It is surely 'age of sail' period, likely Napoleonic, and reflects the kind of ingenuity of the weapons privately commissioned by officers. The dirk was of course a very personal weapon, and carried important symbolic value to the individual.
The naval dirk, though not directly associated with the Scottish dirk, was still closely aligned in these kinds of cases with the wide personalized variation.
There is important history with the Scottish dirk which is intriguing as to why this was such an important weapon. After the proscription of 'weapons' during and after the Jacobite rebellions, the dirk was exempted, and with a most unusual reason.
The strong personal attachment to a Highlander's dirk included profound superstitions ,often related to the same 'magical' superstitions imbued in the German blades of the swords. These circumstances had the swearing of oaths on the dirk held sacrosanct to the point of fear of supernatural retribution if broken, and this was of course used to advantage by British authorities.
While a bit off course, just wanted to add that bit of information which I hope might add to the historic dynamics potentially aligned with this beautiful dirk.
I note the initals in silver rondel on the pommel,which further reminds me of Scottish character.
Raf, thank you so much for the illustration of the identification means with differences in ivory types, and the technical term for these lines (Schreger lines). I had never heard of these as I have not studied much on these materials, so I feel very much enlightened on these forensics! I am inclined to agree with Capn Mark on the period of this dirk, and wonder if perhaps narwhal ivory might have been used as well as walrus. Im not sure of the availability of mammoth ivory, especially then, but seems that these maritime animals components might be more likely.
|