Very Unusual Gothic/Pagan Letter Opener

Agree with those who suggest it's likely a fairly recent fantasy letter opener, the blade resembling in shape, antique paper cutters/page turners. Would guess silverplate on cast brass - somewhat limited by working on my phone, and couldn't find any others in a silver tone. but below are links to some very similar pieces described as brass or bronze:

http://m.ebay.com/itm/111984959857

http://m.ebay.com/itm/111972172358

http://m.ebay.com/itm/172208847772

http://m.ebay.com/itm/201406339734

A somewhat similar piece on a Dutch auction site, described as bronze and as having an 'LM' monogram:

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/a...0002/lot-7d56bb5a-42fc-457e-bb60-a4b5011dfd66

~Cheryl

 

My guess would be that there is a company in China making these by the thousands. Made and imported to be sold at medieval faires, crystal shops, and such.
Googling is not a lot of help with things like this; there are just too many of them.
Often designed by someone from the importers (Mr. or Ms. LM), but not with any great meaning. It is possible that a thorough search would find the original vase, frieze, or whatever that the image was taken from.
Sorry to be skeptical, but I don't think it is satanic or based on any medieval original.
For comparison, here is the identical item on ebay, in a brass finish.
Found by searching "import letter opener dragon"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-B...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Looks like Cheryl and I were googling/typing at the same moment, and with the same thought.

 

Thanks, that's quite interesting! I know it's not satanic - that idea came from a friend of mine who's a bit weird....the one listed on eBay appears to have had all the silver plating rubbed off. I paid 2 Euro for mine. I've been going to flea markets and secondhand shops for 35+ and this is the first such letter opener I've seen.

 

Hi Cheryl - thanks for all those links! I looked at them and have to say that those letter openers are all in a terrible state. I gave 2,00 Euro ($2.24) for mine. I like all things mythological. I'm surprised that I haven't seen one of these before, as I have lived in the Netherlands for 25+ years. I did do an image search and several other searches but came up empty.

 

Now that you mention it, there are a number of medieval fairs held every year in the Netherlands. Entirely possible that it came from one of those fairs. For the 2 Euro I paid for it ($2.24) I think I got a bargain.

 

Certainly a better deal than some of those on ebay.

 

I think the one in the eBay link is an imitation with inferior modeling.

 

That's entirely possible. All of them have been cleaned to within a millimeter of their lives. What I find interesting is that none of the ones on eBay mention the initials "LM", which is deeply impressed on mine on the curved area above the claw. The only opener with the "LM" is on the Dutch listing, but that letter opener is entirely different from mine. I wonder if mine is original and the others are imitations. Surely people selling these can't be so blind as to not see the initials. Mine is beautifully detailed and retains 99% of it's plating, so I'm happy.

 

I think yours is the real deal and the other is a copy.

 

Yes, I see just what you mean - the other one is poor quality. Thanks for posting that comparison.