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About This Work
This print displays two Mannerist-style knives with handles intricately carved into human and mythological forms. The left handle shows a muscular figure supporting a mass of fruit above an oval medallion, while the right depicts a vertical stack of cherubs holding a horn of plenty. The blades contain Latin inscriptions, marking these as luxury items intended for a sophisticated courtly environment.
The inscription 'Mors et vita in manu linguae' (Proverbs 18:21) was a common theme in Renaissance moral philosophy regarding the power of the tongue to create or destroy. As a work by Aegidius Sadeler, court engraver to Rudolf II, it reflects the 'Kunstkammer' culture of Prague, where everyday objects were transformed into philosophical instruments through complex allegory.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Frac. Saluiat. In. MORS ET VITA IN MANV LINGVAE. QVI CVM PRIVIL. S. C. Mtis 12
Translation
Frac. Saluiat. In. DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. WHO WITH PRIVILEGE OF HIS SACRED IMPERIAL MAJESTY 12
Connected Texts
Proverbs 18:21
The Latin inscription on the left blade is a direct quotation of this verse regarding the ethical power of speech.
Francesco Salviati
The print identifies Salviati as the original designer (inventor) of these Mannerist motifs.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 244 mm x width 103 mm
decorative
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.