I am creating a character for a story, and I am designing a knife. So far I have a Laguiole (French) knife with a stylized flying fish instead of an insect, made of titanium with a mother of pearl handle carved with waves. In my mind it looks somewhat plain, and I was wondering what I could use to spice it up. BTW, the character is based off of the sea. If you wish to suggest stones, metals, or woods associated with any of the other elements (fire, air, earth are the ones I am using), go ahead.
Correspondences I’ve picked up over the years, mostly Celt.
Water: Metal – Silver; Jewels – Aquamarine, Beryl, Pearl, Moonstone and River Pebbles; Plants – Fern, Lotus, Water Lily; Tree (Wood) – Willow.
Earth: Metal – Lead; Jewels – Granite, Holystone, Jasper; Quartz, Salt; Plants – Apples, Ivy, Grain; Tree (Wood) – Oak.
Air: Metal – Aluminum, Mercury; Jewels – Chalcedony, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Topaz; Plants – Pansy, Primrose, Vervain, Violet, Yarrow; Tree (Wood) – Aspen.
Fire: Metal – Gold, Iron; Jewels – Fire Opal, Fire Agate, Ruby, Obsidian; Plants – Garlic, Hibiscus, Nettles, Onions; Tree (Wood) – Almond.
As for blades, Silver is associated with the sea, with it’s connections to the moon. Also, I’ve seen knives with a polished coral blade (cool). As for stones, Quartz, Lapis Lazuli, sea glass, etc.
References :
Correspondences I’ve picked up over the years, mostly Celt.
Water: Metal – Silver; Jewels – Aquamarine, Beryl, Pearl, Moonstone and River Pebbles; Plants – Fern, Lotus, Water Lily; Tree (Wood) – Willow.
Earth: Metal – Lead; Jewels – Granite, Holystone, Jasper; Quartz, Salt; Plants – Apples, Ivy, Grain; Tree (Wood) – Oak.
Air: Metal – Aluminum, Mercury; Jewels – Chalcedony, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Topaz; Plants – Pansy, Primrose, Vervain, Violet, Yarrow; Tree (Wood) – Aspen.
Fire: Metal – Gold, Iron; Jewels – Fire Opal, Fire Agate, Ruby, Obsidian; Plants – Garlic, Hibiscus, Nettles, Onions; Tree (Wood) – Almond.
References :
Aquamarine is a semi-precious gemstone, and also a birthstone, though you’d have to look up the month. You could make the handle out of whalebone, or the ivory tusk of a walrus (I’m assuming this knife you’re creating is fictional, like the character, because you can’t buy ivory now, it’s illegal.) Scrimshaw is the ancient seafaring fine art form of carving/etching figures into bone, usually whalebone. The handle could be inlayed with mother of pearl and a delicate scrimshaw illustration – something historical to go with the story, or marine-themed. Don’t forget the scabbard, that’s another opportunity to incorporate your elemental themes.
References :