Pair of engraved art daggers

[Buddy Thomason]

Photographing engraved knives can be a challenge, especially bulino style. Click these thumbnails to enlarge, click again to open fully. I left these somewhat large to make it easier to see the excellent detail Brian Hochstrat worked into these scenes.

1. full spread 4 panel image:

2. partial 2 panel image blades closed:

3. partial 2 panel image blades open:

4. display case open:

5. display case closed:

6. 4 panel spread alternative image:


Brian Hochstrat’s artistic rendering of famous scenes from Ludovico Arrosto’s Orlando Furioso (1516) on Tom Overeynder’s paired folding daggers accurately captures the passion and drama of Italian Renaissance story telling.

Set against the historical backdrop of Charlemagne defending Paris against Saracen invaders from the east, this hilarious tale has more to do with the misadventures of Charlemagne’s paladins and the equally confused Saracen warriors.

Knife I The Rescue of Angelica

Scene 1 features Angelica, Saracen beauty and unobtainable love object in her darkest moment. While fleeing the pursuit of love-stricken Orlando, foremost of Charlemagne’s paladins and enemy of her people, Angelica is captured by locals who need a sacrificial maiden to appease the vicious beast lately tormenting their village.

Scene 2 introduces Orlando’s friend and fellow paladin Ruggiero as he, assisted by a winged hippogriff, severs the beast’s vitals with his blade, thus securing Angelica’s freedom. This would be a good thing but for ensuing femme fatale chaos whereby Orlando’s obsession with Angelica drives him insane and spawns many other calamities.

Knife II Rodomonte’s Doom

Scenes 3 & 4 portray the humiliation and destruction of Rodomonte, a Saracen king ready to die fighting if necessary. His courage and big talk are no match for Bradamante, maiden warrior with a magic lance in pursuit of her own love interest, Ruggiero. The braggart Rodomonte challenges Bradamante to a joust and promptly suffers a humiliating defeat.

Resolved to regain his honor, Rodomonte subsequently interrupts Bradamante’s marriage to Ruggiero with his challenge. A well-fought battle ensues but Rodomonte will not yield, forcing Ruggiero to take his life.

Comments/questions welcome.

[Buddy Thomason]

Happy to report from Atlanta that this project has indeed won the Best Collaboration award, BLADE Show, 2010.

[Buddy Thomason]

I thought it would be fun to make a poster (13X19) commemorating this successful project.