Antique, steel, figural cigar cutter “ Bocca della Veritá “ ( Mouth of Truth ) with ashtray. Very rare.

Antique, steel, figural cigar cutter “ Bocca della Veritá “ ( Mouth of Truth ) with ashtray. Very rare.

USA 1890s

Size: 14 cm L x 7 cm diameter

The Mouth of Truth ( Bocca della Verità ) is an ancient Roman marble mask in Rome, Italy, which stands against the left wall of the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, at the Piazza della Bocca della Verità, the site of the ancient Forum Boarium (the ancient cattle market). According to an enduring medieval legend, it will bite off the hand of any liar who places their hand in its mouth, or, alternatively, any who utters a lie while their hand is in the mouth. It still attracts many visitors who insert their hands.