Not currently on display at the V&A

Knife

ca. 1700 - ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This knife of bone and steel with silver tines is of a pair with a fork. Both handles depict crowned heads with floral ornament. They are likley to be Netherlandish, and to date from the first half of the eighteenth century.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case. 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
Materials and techniques
Bone and steel with silver tines
Brief description
Knife, of a pair with a fork, bone and steel, silver tines, probably Netherlands, ca. 1700-1750
Physical description
This fairly crude carving of this knife-handle depicts crowned heads with floral ornament.
Dimensions
  • Whole length: 16.8cm
  • Ivory alone length: 8.5cm
Credit line
Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq., 25 Queen Anne’s Gate, London S.W.
Object history
Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq., 25 Queen Anne’s Gate, London S.W. in 1902.
Subject depicted
Summary
This knife of bone and steel with silver tines is of a pair with a fork. Both handles depict crowned heads with floral ornament. They are likley to be Netherlandish, and to date from the first half of the eighteenth century.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case. 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.
Associated object
1067A-1902 (Pair)
Bibliographic references
  • List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1902, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices, London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1906, p. 268
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 p. 430
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, p. 430, cat. no. 457
Collection
Accession number
1067-1902

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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