Figural Dagger - Esmeralda?

David · 10th December 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

This recently ended on eBay........... satan + dagger = ££$£$£

Yeah, i think this is generally the case. Call something "satanic" and suddenly a whole bunch of people are willing to pay over the top prices.
This dagger seems to have some occult, or at least mythological themes to it which is not at all surprising for the time period. Consider the themes being explored by the pre-Raphaelite movement during this era. The Green Man, mythological creatures, etc. are all quite common in their palette with no practicing satanic references intended.

Tim Simmons · 10th December 2007, 07:44 PM

After very brief research one has to ask, do scenes of damnation have anything to do with "satanists" cosmology especially as true satanism is largely a 20th century concept ?

spiral · 10th December 2007, 09:05 PM

I realy dont know Tim but while researching the Esmerelda dagger I came across the French book La-bas by J. K. Huysmans published in 1891 which certanly seemed to feature Satanism.

My questian re could the the strangled skelton casting be modern work was a genuine one. I think it could be, but dont have the knowledge of sculpture you do.

I think I detect a modern air to the mans/demons appearance though.

Spiral

Bill M · 16th April 2019, 01:32 PM

With the tragic loss of Notre Dame Cathedral with especially the loss of the iconic Spire reminded me of this dagger I got from Spiral. It is one of my very favorite pieces and thank Johnathan again for letting me acquire from him.

Anne and I both cried when the Spire fell in flames.

Notre Dame is a profound loss for France and the entire world.

Jim McDougall · 16th April 2019, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

With the tragic loss of Notre Dame Cathedral with especially the loss of the iconic Spire reminded me of this dagger I got from Spiral. It is one of my very favorite pieces and thank Johnathan again for letting me acquire from him.

Anne and I both cried when the Spire fell in flames.

Notre Dame is a profound loss for France and the entire world.

Good call Bill in bringing this one back. I am still in disbelief this happened, and I don't think many can say tears did not come as something so iconic was seen in flames.
I know it will be restored, but the loss of so much venerated and sacred structure within as well as the loss of the spire will ever be missed.

kronckew · 16th April 2019, 05:52 PM

Just heard a news broadcast a few minutes ago, the current take on this historic tragedy is that the fire was accidental, Ironically it can then be classified as an act of God. Hopefully, it will be rebuilt in the same ways that have lasted all these centuries. With added sprinklers.

ariel · 17th April 2019, 12:08 AM

The “ iconic spire” was built by the infamous Viollet-le- Duc in the 1860’s. He installed statues of 12 apostles , 11 of whom had their backs toward the spire. The only one , St. Thomas, facing the spire was his own self-portrait.

There are very few truly old architectural memorials that were not destroyed/rebuilt several times and we still admire them as originals.

The entire City of Warsaw was leveled by the Germans in 1944-5, the Gur Emir ( Tamerlan’s mausoleum in Samarkand) had it’s lost wings rebuilt, the Imperial Palace in Budapest was destroyed by the Ottomans, by 5 sieges by Hapsburgs, the Austrians during Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Russians in 1944 and again by the same Russians in 1956 ( another Hungarian Revolution) . Each time it was rebuilt according to old plans. Al Aksa in Jerusalem was rebuilt twice after earthquakes and restored after a major fire in 1969 when a schizophrenic Australian evangelical decided to hasten the Judgement Day.

With plenty of money and modern engineering the Notre Dame will look 100% authentic in no time. Fifty years from now its visitors will admire “genuine Gothic architecture” :-)

10th December 2007, 07:44 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,935	After very brief research one has to ask, do scenes of damnation have anything to do with "satanists" cosmology especially as true satanism is largely a 20th century concept ?

10th December 2007, 09:05 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I realy dont know Tim but while researching the Esmerelda dagger I came across the French book La-bas by J. K. Huysmans published in 1891 which certanly seemed to feature Satanism. My questian re could the the strangled skelton casting be modern work was a genuine one. I think it could be, but dont have the knowledge of sculpture you do. I think I detect a modern air to the mans/demons appearance though. Spiral

16th April 2019, 01:32 PM	#4
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	With the tragic loss of Notre Dame Cathedral with especially the loss of the iconic Spire reminded me of this dagger I got from Spiral. It is one of my very favorite pieces and thank Johnathan again for letting me acquire from him. Anne and I both cried when the Spire fell in flames. Notre Dame is a profound loss for France and the entire world.

16th April 2019, 05:52 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,262	Just heard a news broadcast a few minutes ago, the current take on this historic tragedy is that the fire was accidental, Ironically it can then be classified as an act of God. Hopefully, it will be rebuilt in the same ways that have lasted all these centuries. With added sprinklers.

17th April 2019, 12:08 AM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The “ iconic spire” was built by the infamous Viollet-le- Duc in the 1860’s. He installed statues of 12 apostles , 11 of whom had their backs toward the spire. The only one , St. Thomas, facing the spire was his own self-portrait. There are very few truly old architectural memorials that were not destroyed/rebuilt several times and we still admire them as originals. The entire City of Warsaw was leveled by the Germans in 1944-5, the Gur Emir ( Tamerlan’s mausoleum in Samarkand) had it’s lost wings rebuilt, the Imperial Palace in Budapest was destroyed by the Ottomans, by 5 sieges by Hapsburgs, the Austrians during Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Russians in 1944 and again by the same Russians in 1956 ( another Hungarian Revolution) . Each time it was rebuilt according to old plans. Al Aksa in Jerusalem was rebuilt twice after earthquakes and restored after a major fire in 1969 when a schizophrenic Australian evangelical decided to hasten the Judgement Day. With plenty of money and modern engineering the Notre Dame will look 100% authentic in no time. Fifty years from now its visitors will admire “genuine Gothic architecture” :-)