An 18th-century bloodletting scarificator by Austrian surgical instrument maker Andreas Fischer.

Andreas was part of a long family line of surgical instrument makers from Vienna, Austria. The design, inscription, and embellishments are something of true craftsmanship and beauty. The maker’s name and place of creation are written on the device. The heart-shaped central screw was used to adjust the depth of the 16-blade instrument. The blades were charged by pulling the top lever and released by the side catch.

• From the Ishmael collection