248 - Dagger. Europe, 19th century.

Dagger. Europe, 19th century. Steel and turned bone. Straight, double-edged blade; turned handle. It exhibits a patina and surface oxidation consistent with its age. Measurements: 31 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. The simplicity of the crossguard and the turned handle are reminiscent of modern European dagger models, which were frequently reinterpreted during the 19th century. The piece features a long, narrow blade with a sharply pointed tip, balanced by a small, straight guard whose ends are finished with molded knobs. The handle, made of bone, is assembled with a series of turned rings that provide a secure grip and a subtle ornamental effect. This type of short sword continued to be manufactured throughout the 19th century, both for practical purposes and as part of the historicist trend for weapons from earlier periods.