Medieval dagger

The medieval ballock dagger
Ballock dagger or kidney dagger

Ballock dagger (Dutch), ballock dagger (English), dague à couillettes (French) or testicle dagger (German). The names in various European languages leave little to the imagination. When you look at the piece, you immediately see why. The handle, with its two round bulbs, is reminiscent of male genitalia. Sometimes you also see it referred to as a kidney dagger. Here too, the origin of the name lies in its shape: the two bulbous protrusions resemble two kidneys. However, this more prudish name only came into use in the 19th century.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, people still talked cheerfully about the “klotendolk”. The dagger made its appearance in Europe in the 13th century as a weapon and remained in use until 1650.

However, the klotendolk was a particularly popular accessory in the 14th and 15th centuries. Nobles, wealthy merchants and craftsmen all carried this handy object. It was multifunctional: it served as a sharp knife in the home, but was also an excellent weapon.

An insignia from our collection shows a group of five men (see below). The central figure has a sword in his hand, while the others carry a dagger as a weapon. It appears to be a leader with his entourage. Unfortunately, we do not know which group is depicted here. A group of rebels? An urban militia defending the city? Or perhaps a band of robbers?

Dangerous practice

The men on the insignia wear their daggers at their sides, as is customary. But occasionally, especially young men, present the dagger in a more suggestive manner between their legs and pointing straight ahead. A miniature from the world-famous “Les très riches heures” illustrates this (see below).

The young aristocrat on the left, in a rich blue cloak, wears his dagger between his legs. A dangerous joke that further emphasises the name.

A modern replica

On 30 March, the Ypres Museum will open its new exhibition “Cheerful, Free & Obscene. The Middle Ages, a multifaceted discovery”. In this “What a piece”, we look forward to the exhibition and showcase a medieval piece from the collection. The dagger is a “beautiful” example of the obscene side of this fascinating period.

Craftsman and knife smith Frederik Tanghe has made a replica of the klotendolk excavated in the Verdronken Weide especially for the Yper Museum. He used ancient forging techniques to create a one-to-one reconstruction of the dagger. The result can be admired from 30 March in the temporary exhibition “Cheerful, Free & Obscene. The Middle Ages, a multifaceted discovery”.