Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry, created between 1580 and 1600, offers a window into the Renaissance fascination with merging art and everyday utility. Designed as a template for a knife handle, or hilt, the print features a scene from the Book of Tobit, a biblical tale of faith and divine protection. At just over five inches tall, the work exemplifies how artists of the period transformed functional objects into miniature narratives, blending storytelling with craftsmanship. De Bry, part of a renowned family of engravers, employed a combination of fine-line engraving and blackwork—a technique that creates rich contrasts through dense, patterned shading. This approach allowed the design to be transferred onto metal, where the intricate details would catch the light on a finished hilt. Such prints circulated widely among artisans, serving as both inspiration and practical guides in workshops across Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece highlights the era’s ornamental traditions. It reminds viewers that even the smallest objects could carry profound cultural and spiritual significance, turning a simple tool into a canvas for timeless stories.

About the Artist

Johann Theodor de Bry · 1561–1923

Comment on works: copper engraver