Fire-steel

Fire-steel (length 3 1/2 ins) from bottom of a tinder-pouch; steel largely overlaid on both sides with plates of silver and gold; four large silver plates, all engraved with a cross-hatched design; four smaller gold plates, two at each end, stamped in relief with a stag trippant; two similar plates, in middle, stamped in relief with a monogram (? "V. E."). Spain. [NB: one of fifty-seven specimens (nos. 367-423) believed to be all Spanish, some of considerable antiquity. Most of them were formerly in the Lavedan Collection. The series is remarkable for the excellent artistic design and the fineness of the steel-casting exhibited by many of the examples - these being special features of Spanish steels, which often bear names, initials, or armorial bearings, showing the pride taken in them by their owners.]