Design for Knife Handles with the Temptation of Adam and Eve and a Memento Mori Scene

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry, created between 1580 and 1600, served as a practical design for decorating knife handles, or hilts. It combines two contrasting scenes: the biblical Temptation of Adam and Eve, complete with serpents, and a memento mori motif featuring skeletons. Such dual imagery was popular in late Renaissance Europe, where everyday luxury objects often carried moral messages about sin, mortality, and redemption. De Bry, part of a prominent family of engravers from the Low Countries and Germany, specialized in ornamental prints that blended intricate detail with symbolic depth. The medium of engraving paired with blackwork allowed for precise linework and bold contrasts, making the designs suitable for transfer onto metal or ivory handles. These prints highlight how art permeated daily life, transforming functional tools into carriers of cultural and religious ideas. Today, the work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of prints and ornament, offering insight into 16th-century tastes that valued both craftsmanship and contemplation.

About the Artist

Johann Theodor de Bry · 1561–1923

Comment on works: copper engraver