Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Metalware, Room 116, The Belinda Gentle Gallery

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Knife and Fork

1600-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mother-of-pearl was an ideal material for making handles. Its diverse colours shimmered, it was cheaper than ivory and it lasted longer as it did not dry and split. This cutlery set may be ‘Habaner work’, a term used for folk art made by refugees from the Austrian province of Tyrol who settled in Hungary during the religious wars of the 16th century.

Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Fork
Materials and techniques
Steel, with handles of horn and mother-of-pearl over a wood core and engraved brass ferrules
Brief description
Knife and fork with handles of horn, mother-of-pearl and brass, possibly 'Habaner work', Germany or Hungary, 1600-1700.
Physical description
Knife and fork with handles of horn and mother-of-pearl over a wood core. Engraved brass ferrules.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Capt. H. W. Murray
Summary
Mother-of-pearl was an ideal material for making handles. Its diverse colours shimmered, it was cheaper than ivory and it lasted longer as it did not dry and split. This cutlery set may be ‘Habaner work’, a term used for folk art made by refugees from the Austrian province of Tyrol who settled in Hungary during the religious wars of the 16th century.

Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.
Collection
Accession number
M.1062&A-1910

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Record createdFebruary 4, 2005
Record URL
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