Victorian Stag's Head Letter Opener, Mother of Pearl, Antler, & Brass

Collectibles : Desk Top : Accessories

 

Although unmarked, this rustic paper slitter is typical of work done in Germany or Austria around the late 1800's. 8 1/2" long, with a nicely figured and very wide (1 1/4") M.O.P. blade of Australian white ocean pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) anchored to a curved handle made from the tip or prong of a deer antler. Joining the two sections is an ornately embossed and darkly patinated brass fitting in the form of a stag's head atop an ornamental base, a left-facing head on each side of the blade each with a faceted garnet or red glass eye.

In good condition: one of the two pins in the antlers is missing but all parts remain very solidly fixed; the MOP has a tiny flake to the edge (shown in one photo) and next to that a shallow hairline crack -- what appears to be a larger fracture spanning the blade in that area is not a crack at all but rather a natural "flow line" in the shell itself, a seam which is always present surrounding the central "muscle scar" area of the right-hand (and flattest) valve where the animal was attached, and which does not compromise the strength of the very heavy blade (which is almost 1/8" thick along the spine). Otherwise flawless, showing only very fine scuff marks from 130 years of gentle use.

Would provide a nice touch as a desk or library accessory to a boy's or man's room, or just laying around on a plank table in that country cabin!

Item ID: 00244