3 Archaeological Discoveries, 16th Century, Netherlands

Three interesting archaeological finds from the Netherlands dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
1 A bronze belt tab decorated with the image of Fortuna, mascarons and lion heads. Fortuna is an italic allegorical deity of luck.
2 A bronze knife handle. An interesting love gift from the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Two lovers. With his arms wrapped around each other, the man tenderly places his left hand on his partner's chest. The woman wears an ornate dress and headdress and holds a partially open fan in her right hand. The man is wearing a hat, a jacket and pants. A sword hangs from his left hip. The iconography of the handle suggests that the knife was an engagement gift in the late 16th or early 17th century.
3 A knife handle carved from horn. The graceful S-shaped lady carries a large basket of fruit and represents the goddess Ceres. The Goddess of Abundance. Decorated knives were expensive in the 17th century and were an indication of status.