Hunting Knife 1475 - 1525

This hunting knife was crafted by Hans Sumersperger, a bladesmith active in the late 15th century. The work features a striking contrast in textures and materials, the rough, time-worn steel of the blade against the detailed inlay of the handle. The flat, broad blade challenges conventional forms. Its shape implies a sense of utility rather than solely ornamentation. The handle, in contrast, has ornamental brass elements and patterned sections of light and dark material. The artist's emphasis on this contrast isn't just aesthetic. It reflects a broader interplay between function and status in Renaissance society. The blade performs a function, but the inlaid handle is a signifier, an assertion of the owner's status. The two exist in tension. Sumersperger's hunting knife invites us to consider how objects communicate complex cultural codes, blurring lines between practicality and display.