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Artigas: Angrist

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Kuvaus (tekijä):

Today's piece was brought to you by a gentleman who is a regular benefactor of my art and prefers to remain anonymous. He tasked me with crafting my own rendition of Angrist.

In this accompanying article, I aim to highlight the incredibly intricate and interconnected tapestry of events, objects, and characters moved by fate in Tolkien’s lore, while also elucidating my design rationale:

Telchar of Nogrod, renowned as the paramount Dwarven smith of the First Age, and perhaps the greatest of all time, stands unparalleled in craftsmanship. Three of his creations loom large in the annals of legend, each intricately entwined with the fate and downfall of Morgoth and Sauron.

These artifacts, chronicled in Tolkien's works, include the Dragon Helm of Dor-Lómin, Narsil/Anduril, and Angrist (the object of today’s piece).

The Dragon helm was pivotal in shaping the character of Turin Turambar, who slew the first great Dragon, Glaurung the deceiver. Glaurung was the first terrestrial, fire-breathing dragon in Middle-earth, bred by Morgoth himself in the depths of Angband. He was known as the Father of Dragons and possibly the progenitor of all dragons.

The Dragon Helm's effect on Turin's fate isn't explicitly outlined in the literature. Nevertheless, considering its potent magical attributes and its tailored purpose of combating fire-breathing worms, it's reasonable to infer that it wielded considerable influence over the course of events, extending its impact even after its disappearance.

Narsil was even more fated, being the weapon to cleave the One Ring out of Sauron’s hand, and later becoming Anduril, the sword that made Aragorn de facto king and reforged the Dunedain kingdoms of Middle-earth.

Angrist was a fated magical Dwarvish long knife crafted by Telchar. It was worn sheathless by his side, possessing the legendary ability to cleave iron as easily as green wood. The name "Angrist" is Sindarin, signifying "Iron-cleaver," derived from the elements ang ("iron") and ris ("cleave") or kris, a derivative of kir ("cleave, cut").

Later, Angrist changed hands, initially borne by Prince Curufin and eventually by Beren Erchamion. This remarkable blade played a pivotal role in Beren's quest, as it was the tool he wielded to free one of the Silmarils from Morgoth's Iron crown.

Curufin was a Noldorin prince and one of the seven sons of Fëanor. Along with his siblings, he swore the Oath of Fëanor, joined the Exile of the Noldor, and settled in East Beleriand. He was Fëanor's favorite son and greatly resembled him in skill, temperament, and appearance.

Furthermore, he was the progenitor of Celebrimbor, the illustrious master jewel-smith of Eregion, and a distinguished Ñoldorin prince, marking the final descendant of the House of Fëanor during Middle-earth's Second Age. Reigning over Eregion, he earned widespread acclaim for his unparalleled skill as a master smith. Celebrimbor's enduring legacy revolves chiefly around his creation of the Three Rings of Power: Nenya, Vilya, and Narya. Additionally, he crafted the Elfstone, which he bestowed upon Galadriel, and later it found its way into the possession of Aragorn.

Curufin was almost always in the company of his brother Celegorm, and the pair are most notable for their role as antagonists in the story of Beren and Lúthien, where they made foiled attempts to usurp the kingdom of Nargothrond, force Lúthien into marriage to coerce a political alliance with the kingdom of Doriath, and even attacked Beren and Lúthien directly.

Curufin's other brother, Caranthir, governed lands along the northern border of the Blue Mountains, where he engaged with dwarves despite their tense relations. Cooperation proved advantageous: the Noldor shared their expertise, enhancing dwarven craftsmanship, while Caranthir controlled all trade between the dwarves and Beleriand, greatly enriching himself. It's likely that Angrist was obtained through this trade network and later passed on to Curufin by Caranthir.

The acquisition of Angrist and witnessing the relationship between Caranthir’s people and the dwarves likely had a lasting impact on Curufin's son, Celebrimbor. In the Second Age, Celebrimbor fostered the most robust and fruitful relationship between elves and dwarves in Middle-earth's history.

The ownership history of Angrist and its connection to Curufin are somewhat obscure. In The Silmarillion, it is only mentioned that the knife was crafted by Telchar, the renowned dwarf smith of Nogrod. While many sources suggest that Telchar gave the knife directly to Curufin, there is no explicit mention of this in the books. It seems more plausible that Angrist found its way to Curufin through a less direct route.

Regardless, Angrist eventually came into Curufin's possession. Later, both Curufin and Celegorm faced banishment from Nargothrond. During their departure, Curufin showed disrespect to Orodreth*, the city's ruler, sarcastically addressing him as "Sir Steward" while handling Angrist.

A few days later, Samwise Gamgee tried to use the Phial of Galadriel in the Crack of Doom, but Sauron's power there dimmed even the light of Gil-Orestel. Ages after the end of the Third Age, Gil-Orestel still lit up the sky as the planet Venus.

Design notes:

The design of this blade is intended to convey both strength and elegance. Its hefty and sharp appearance suggests its capability to slice through iron effortlessly, akin to shaving a log of wood. The overall robustness of the blade is complemented by lavish decorations, adding a touch of opulence to its formidable presence.

For the general shape I sought inspiration on the Roman Pugio dagger, as well as Norse swords. The motif in the pommel harkens to the three peaks of Moria, home to Durin, and the three diamond etched studs at the guard subtly hint at the significance of the Silmarils, perhaps foreseeing the blade's future destiny.

The ring on its centre of gravity is how I envision it would be hung from Telchar’s belt from a hook or chain, both a weapon and a display of wealth and skill. It also harkens to the “Rings” theme of Tolkien’s work.

The knife would be covered in impossibly intricate damascenes of silver and gold, full of motifs inserted within of larger motifs. Subtle inserts of small diamonds and a masterful pattern welded blade would reflect the light in many different facets of metal and stone and make it glisten all over like a jewel.

I envision this weapon transcending mere craftsmanship, becoming a tangible embodiment of magic itself. Chosen and treasured by Curufin, esteemed son of Feanor and renowned for his unmatched skill, it would undoubtedly be among the most extraordinary items in tales of legend. For a master craftsman of Curufin's stature to bestow such reverence upon it speaks volumes about its exceptional nature. It's inconceivable that he would even spare a second glance at anything less than legendary, let alone carry it with him, especially considering it was not crafted by his own people.

Perhaps Curufin, with his keen elven insight, perceived something beyond the physical form of the blade – an intangible essence of destiny and power intertwined with its very being. It's plausible that his insatiable thirst for power and boundless ambition drove him to choose this weapon, envisioning its potential to augment his own might. Yet, in a twist of fate, the blade have escaped his control, making of Curufin a mere vessel through which destiny guided it to its rightful wielder in the end.

I went through a few variations of the same design before settling on this one after discussing it at length with my patron, and I uploaded it here for your judgement:

www.deviantart.com/artigas/art…

Thanks for your visit and your insights.

Cheers

PS: Edit, adjusted the sequence of events regarding Maedhros's imprisonment and Curufin acquiring Angrist. Thanks for the clarification IAvas.

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Published: Feb 21, 2024

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