c. 1559
Knife with Devices Commemorating the Marriage of François de Montmorency and Diane de France
Artist/maker unknownIt was common in Renaissance Europe for a pair of knives to be given as part of a bridal trousseau. This knife was part of a pair, and its handle is decorated with monograms that can be connected to the 1559 marriage of François de Montmorency, marshal of France, and Diane de France, the legitimized daughter of King Henri II of France. Complex monograms were favored by members of the aristocracy as markers of possession and to convey personal meanings. For example, the closed letter “S” on the handle symbolizes constancy, fidelity, and firmness, and appears on many works owned by François de Montmorency.
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