I. Introduction

In our class, we received numerous objects from Koninklijk Zeeuws Genootschap der Wetenschappen (Royal Scientific Society of Sciences). I have chosen the following object: a peculiar Lion Knife Handle from the 16th century. There was something fascinating about this object. I had a striking idea of how to incorporate this object in a movie and I thought of music.

Click here for a detailed description of my process including class assignments.

Lion Knife Process: Events, Music, Philosophy, Tasks

                        **Possibility of a Collection and Lion Knifes in The Netherlands**

As suggested by Aagje Feldbrugge, dedicated researcher of the objects we are examining, and archeologist/curator at Erfgoed Zeeland, perhaps the object is part of a collection. The various related knifes come from various parts of the Netherlands.

Caption 1: Lion Knife from Vlissingen (top)

Caption 2: Lion Knife Handle from Grootebroek (top)

Caption 4: Lion Knife Handle from Amsterdam (top)

Caption 3: Lion Knife Handle from archaeological centre in Amersfoort (top)

   Lion knife handle from Enkhuisen (top)

                                                                Full knife from Amsterdam (top)

Source: Boer J.C. de, 2010. Het leeuwenheft als boegbeeld voor de republiek - in Zevenhonderd jaar wonen, werken en begraven langs de Achterhaven.

• There are obviously more lion knife handles in The Netherlands and some, such as the knife handle from Groetebrook or another knife handle from Vlissingen (which I personally examined) are very similar/almost identical to the lion knife handle from the Koninklijk Zeeuws Genootschap der Wetenschappen in Middelburg. This indicates the very likely possibility of a collection and possibly some sort of a connection between these knives.
• A possibly relevant question is: "Why do so many of them not have a handle?"
• Another question: is there a purpose to these knives in the Netherlands and were they all made in Netherlands?
• Do other countries have similar knives and what were their purposes?
• By far the most accurate image' and the most similar one to the Lion Knife Handle is the Full knife From Amsterdam. If one were to make a physical replica, it should look like this.

II. Mapping

In week 2 everyone gathered information on all of the objects and as a class we classified our contributions towards the objects in terms of 'rarity', 'symbolism', 'historical influence', 'origin'... in reference to our personal interests. This intended us to engage in further research and embrace creative stimuli.

Mapping Picture 1 : Visual dimension

Origin

• Netherlands (Middelburg? - this polemics is unknown, but it was based on the fact that the object has been received from Royal Scientific Society of Sciences in Middelburg). Trade routes: West-India company and Middelburg. Africa + South Africa: similar knifes are common and there exists the possibility that the knife itself comes from this region or is somehow connected (this possibility has been raised by guest lecturer and researcher Mrs. Aagje Feldbrugge in Week 5 as well, but concluding evidence is not present yet).
• Rebellion against Spanish conquerors/occupation. Lion as a nationalistic sign in favour of Dutch independence.
• Date: 1568-1648.
• Material: Ivory.

Each aspect/perspective has been assigned a different colour.

Historical - pink

Rarity - light brown

Function - dark brown

Origin - green

Form function and natural resource - no color

And general/extra information and quotes- without a label or color. This made our mapping visually more ordered.

Form

A similar knife has been found on an auctioning website: HutchinsonScott. Unlike the lion knife handle object, which is made of ivory, this object is claimed to be silver (perhaps coloring/coating only, but possibly the entire object). The object does not include only the handle part, but rather it forms an entire knife. This indicates that the original lion knife handle object (the one I am researching) is missing the sharp part/blade. Additionally, this auctioned lion knife handle object is from the 17th century, while the object in investigation is likely older (16th century).

Rarity, History and natural resource

• confirmation on the knife being made of ivory.
• ivory cutlery often being in possession of richer families and more likely to be preserved.
• ivory in modern times: growing scarce, unethical: elephants and rhinos are protected (this idea is conflicts with the idea of using the object as an ethical object: Material vs Symbolism).
• similar objects found in Amsterdam: related to Amsterdam and protestant church.

Other illustrations, including function and symbolical value (function was most developed in later mapping processes)