Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures

Hans Janssen

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an ornate vertical panel with intricate designs. The panel is decorated with elaborate scrollwork featuring mythical creatures and narrative vignettes confined within two main sections. The top section depicts figures gathered around a centrally placed figure, possibly engaged in a ritual by an altar or fire. The middle section contains a motif, possibly a heraldic lion amidst swirling patterns. The bottom section shows two figures in an interior setting, one seated and another possibly reading. Decorative flourishes with stylized birds and beasts frame the scenes, suggesting an ornamental art style used for architectural or functional objects.