Rare Spanish Crucifix Dagger, Plata Meneses, Madrid, 1937, Spanish Civil War era.

Rare Spanish Crucifix Dagger, Plata Meneses, Madrid, 1937, Spanish Civil War era. A fine and rare devotional crucifix dagger crafted in Spain during the late interwar period, bearing the mark of the celebrated Madrid workshop Plata Meneses, dated 1937. The dagger features a double-edged steel blade with etched inscriptions and the distinctive Meneses Madrid hallmark — a radiant sun enclosing the Gothic letter M, symbolizing divine illumination. Below the mark appears the traditional cross motif, characteristic of Meneses’ ecclesiastical pieces. The hilt forms a Latin cross, surmounted by a finely cast and silvered Corpus Christi with a halo. The grip and crossguard are finished in black lacquered wood with metal fittings, reflecting both solemnity and refinement. The dagger retains its original black leather scabbard, reinforced with engraved silver mounts decorated with simple devotional motifs. The reverse of the blade bears a dated inscription “1937” and a faintly engraved Spanish devotional phrase: “Jesus, eres mi salvador” (“Jesus, you are my savior”), linking the piece unmistakably to the Spanish Civil War era (1936–1939) — a period when such symbolic weapons were sometimes carried by chaplains, officers, or religious devotees as emblems of protection and faith. A notable and evocative devotional dagger from the Meneses workshop, representing the fusion of Spanish religious artistry and traditional blade craftsmanship during a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. Condition: Very good, minor wear consistent with age; marks and engravings legible. Length: approx. 27 cm.