247 - Dagger from Albacete, 19th century.

Dagger from Albacete, 19th century. Metal with a bronze, bone, and wood hilt; leather sheath. Measurements: 27 cm in length. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. A dagger with a double-edged blade and a hilt made of gilded bronze and wood, combined with ivory bands and metal trim (two gold and one rose-colored). The scabbard is decorated on the outside with fine parallel stripes. Although functionality clearly took precedence over decoration, the latter was by no means neglected, as evidenced by the materials chosen and the craftsmanship involved. Furthermore, Albacete daggers were known and prized for the quality of their metal.