Circumcision Knife with Decorated Handle and Hidden Compartment for Disinfectant Powder – Europe (Possibly Italy, ) ...

Circumcision Knife with Decorated Handle and Hidden Compartment for Disinfectant Powder – Europe (Possibly Italy, ) Late 19th or Early 20th Century

Silver, cast and engraved (unmarked); silver sheet, soldered and perforated; granulation; steel.
Knife handle bears illustrations on both its sides of images connected to the circumcision ritual: on one side is a depiction of a "mohel" (circumcisionist) holding a knife, while the other side bears an illustration of the "sandak" (godfather), holding the newborn in his arms. Inscription engraved on lower borders (beneath illustrations): "… Yosef son of / Noah Mayov (?) (Hebrew)."
The handle is hollow, and houses a small, hidden container for powder (used both as a disinfectant and to stop bleeding). At the bottom of the container is a removable lid, and at the top is a crown-shaped ornament which also surmounts the handle, and serves as a knob for pulling out the container. Both the knob and the sides of the handle are adorned with rows of spherules, created by granulation.
We are unfamiliar with parallel items resembling this knife. It was likely a product of the Jewish reawakening at the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a consequent trend toward a renewed interest in the Judaica market (for more on this subject, see the introduction to this catalogue, p. 15; in addition, see previous item).

Length: approx. 15.5 cm. Width: 2.5 cm. Thickness: 2 cm. Good condition.

Exhibition: Basel, Jewish Museum of Switzerland, JMS 1044.
Provenance:
1. Ignat Mahler Collection.
2. Peter Castle (1922-2011), acquired at a public auction in 1970 ("Valuable Judaica: From the Collection of the Late Ignat Mahler", Parke-Bernet Galleries, 1970, lot no. 132).
3. Heirs of the above.