Early 17th century Dutch Shoehorn. Dated 1608. This large cattle horn is engraved with three scenes of the Fall of Man from the Book of Genesis - Adam and Eve are created by God, the Temptation by the Serpent and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Engraved cartouche: DEUR ADAMS VAL IS DE SONDE ORDER AERDEN ON MAER CHRISTUS ONSE GODT HEFTSE WEDER VECH GENOME (By Adams fall is the sinful order, [to exit the garden] but Christ our God raises up again.)

The earliest forms of shoehorns or “shooing horne” date from the 16th century when softback shoes of the Renaissance became fashionable and long curved bovine horns served as the ideal form to apply this often delicate accessory.

42 x 7 cm.

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