Well, just look at it. This thing is straight out of, like, Versailles, but the rest of the house? Total bachelor pad. There has to be a story behind why he even has it at all, right? I mean, you seem like a regular guy; would you go out and buy something like this for your mantel for no reason? So if it is cursed, I'm thinking it was given to him, maybe by somebody who knew about its powers and had a grudge--

[A melding of theories! Supernatural activity and mundane murder, albeit with an unorthodox weapon!]

-- or he picked it up for himself because he was told it was going to, I don't know, grant magic wishes or something. In which case, some local shop owner is definitely doing shady stuff under the table.