Iron Razor or Folding Knife with Ivory Handle in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 2008

Iron Razor or Folding Knife with Ivory Handle
2nd-4th centuries AD
Ivory with corroded iron blade

Accession # 26.7.1300

The ivory handle has a tiger or panther carved three dimensionally on the outer edge. On its face is Herakles with his club, resting after cleaning the Augean stables. On the lower right is is the container he used to capture the river water, which according to the myth he diverted for that purpose. Notched decoration occurs at the lower edge, and notched and crossed decoration is visible on the back. An iron blade extends almost two-thirds of the way into the handle, although the blade and details of its fitting are obscured by heavy corrosion.

A closely related group of iron knives or razors is known whose decorated handles draw on a common repertoire. A number of these are known from Italy, although the place of manufacture has not been located.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.