dagger;
electrotype
- Museum number
- 1913,1119.2
- Description
-
Electrotype of a dagger with ivory pommel from Bronze Age Mycenae. Decorated with inlaid spirals.
- Production date
-
1900-1913 (replica)
-
1600BC-1500BC (original)
-
18thC - 20thC
- Dimensions
-
Length: 39 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- The original is in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens (NAM 744)
Jones 1990
Replicas of Greek and Roman objects
From the period of the Grand Tour until the present day there has been a demand by travellers for souvenir copies of antiquities; museums and collectors have also wished to acquire replicas of well-known objects. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries especially foundries and electrotyping firms produced huge numbers of copies, many of which, their origin having been forgotten, appear as antiquities in collections, dealers' stock and museums. Several foundries were based in Naples, including the firms of J. Chiurazzi & Son, S. de Angelis & Son, and G. Sommer & Son. All these issued printed catalogues of their bronze products, which could be purchased in different sizes and different surface finishes; marble copies of certain items could also be acquired.
Very fine electrotype reproductions were made by several firms, including the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (see catalogue in the G&R library), which made copies of the Hildesheim Treasure and E. Gilliéron's versions of Mycenaean and Minoan objects. This example was designed by E. Gilliéron of Athens and made by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik. Based on a dagger of the mid-16th century BC found at Mycenae in Grave Circle A by H. Schliemann; the handle is an imaginative reconstruction.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1913
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1913,1119.2
