Carved Ivory Dagger
The transition from handle to guard to blade needs to be as smooth as possible to keep the eye moving around the entire piece. The visual movement created by the Damascus pattern in the blade is transformed by the carving of the ricasso. This carving continues the movement created by the flowing design of the guard that in turn highlights the carving of the steel spacer and fossil ivory handle. The 14k gold bands offer brief areas for the eye to rest. The three parts of the knife: color, texture, and shape are all important, and each is addressed in this dagger.