DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0149
'NILE PIECES' ON DAGGER-BLADE 113
placed at my disposal his technical observations as to these objects due to
close and repeated personal observation and aided by chemical experts.
'Nile Pieces' on Dagger-blade.
One of the most splendid illustrations of the processes employed is the ' Nile
dagger depicting the 'Nile piece' (Coloured Plate XX and Figs. 63, 64), oif"
the connexion of which with a class of painted stucco designs on the walls uf^fer"
of the Cretan Palaces is clearly ascertained.
Fig. 63. Section of Dagger-blade with Inlays showing River and Duck-hunting
Scenes.
Fig. 64. Central Part of Dagger, showing the Outlines and Raised Surfaces
of the Silver Plate socketed into the Bronze Blade. (■£)
In this case, as is shown in the Section (Fig. 63), a cavity, about Descrip-
a millimetre in depth, has been hollowed out of the central part of the \'°^j.
bronze blade, and into this has been set a silver plate following its curve 1ue-
below the general level of the dagger-blade, so as to leave a sunken space to
be filled with niello. In part of its width, however, this inserted plate rises
to the surface, forming on both faces of the dagger a wavy silver band that
extends to the whole length of the blade and forms the river-course in the
design, its surface being oxidized to give relief to the fishes. In two other
places, moreover, this silver plate reaches the surface, partly inlaid with gold,
in the form of a hunting animal of cat-like aspect.
Besides the black niello, the cut-out surface of this central plate forms
the basis for incrustations of pale gold, polished silver, and more rarely of
in. 1
placed at my disposal his technical observations as to these objects due to
close and repeated personal observation and aided by chemical experts.
'Nile Pieces' on Dagger-blade.
One of the most splendid illustrations of the processes employed is the ' Nile
dagger depicting the 'Nile piece' (Coloured Plate XX and Figs. 63, 64), oif"
the connexion of which with a class of painted stucco designs on the walls uf^fer"
of the Cretan Palaces is clearly ascertained.
Fig. 63. Section of Dagger-blade with Inlays showing River and Duck-hunting
Scenes.
Fig. 64. Central Part of Dagger, showing the Outlines and Raised Surfaces
of the Silver Plate socketed into the Bronze Blade. (■£)
In this case, as is shown in the Section (Fig. 63), a cavity, about Descrip-
a millimetre in depth, has been hollowed out of the central part of the \'°^j.
bronze blade, and into this has been set a silver plate following its curve 1ue-
below the general level of the dagger-blade, so as to leave a sunken space to
be filled with niello. In part of its width, however, this inserted plate rises
to the surface, forming on both faces of the dagger a wavy silver band that
extends to the whole length of the blade and forms the river-course in the
design, its surface being oxidized to give relief to the fishes. In two other
places, moreover, this silver plate reaches the surface, partly inlaid with gold,
in the form of a hunting animal of cat-like aspect.
Besides the black niello, the cut-out surface of this central plate forms
the basis for incrustations of pale gold, polished silver, and more rarely of
in. 1