Handle of Knife thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Handle of Knife

ca. 1650 - ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This handle of a knife is of carved ivory and made in Germany in about 1650-1700.
Carved are two puttis surrounded by various fruits. 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
Carved ivory with gilt metal mounts and amber bead
Brief description
Handle of a knife or fork, ivory, gilt metal mounts, two putti with various fruit, German, ca. 1650-1700
Physical description
Two putti, one standing, the other kneeling at his feet, are surrounded by various fruits (pomegranates, grapes etc.). At the top is an amber bead and below a gilt metal mount.
Dimensions
  • Whole length: 8.5cm
  • Ivory alone length: 6.5cm
Object history
From the Murray bequest in 1910.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This handle of a knife is of carved ivory and made in Germany in about 1650-1700.
Carved are two puttis surrounded by various fruits. 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
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 163
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 93
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 p. 420
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, p. 420, cat. no. 428
Collection
Accession number
A.1074-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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