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Knife

Knife

  • Place of origin:

    London, England (made)

  • Date:

    1607 (dated)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Smyth, Arnold (possibly, maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Steel, carved ivory and damascened gold

  • Museum number:

    462-1869

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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The knives are from a set of 14 with carved ivory handles representing the kings and queens of England, from Henry I to James I. The inscriptions on the blades name each monarch depicted.

Physical description

Knife, steel the handle of ivory, carved with a portrait figure of Henry VII, King of England, the neck of the blade damascened with gold.

Place of Origin

London, England (made)

Date

1607 (dated)

Artist/maker

Smyth, Arnold (possibly, maker)

Materials and Techniques

Steel, carved ivory and damascened gold

Marks and inscriptions

Mark: a dagger for the London Cutlers' Company
Mark: a crowned diamond

Dimensions

Length: 11.75 in

Object history note

Reports on these knives in Art Referees Reports, Vol 1 (1868-March, 1869), 22903 ff; J.C. Robinson's Reports, June 1866-September 1867, 12991 ff, where it is stated that they had been "recently forwarded from Russia;" and ibid Vol.6 (September 1867-June 1868), 2389 ff, where it is stated that the knives came from Countess Kucheleff in St. Petersburg.

Descriptive line

Steel, carved ivory and damascened gold, London, 1607, mark of Arnold Smyth (possibly).

Materials

Gold; Ivory; Steel

Techniques

Carving; Forging (metal forming); Damascening

Subjects depicted

Henry (VII, King of England)

Categories

Metalwork; Tableware & cutlery; Eating

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O104727
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