Cutlery Set
ca. 1650 - ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This cutlery set containing one large knife and fork and thirteen smaller knives and forks, are carved with lion's heads. They are housed in a cylindrical leather case. Their style suggests they are likely to date from the second half of the seventeenth century, and were made in Germany, or perhaps Scandinavia.
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.
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 | |
Parts | This object consists of 28 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Steel and ivory with silver collars, in original leather case |
Brief description | Cutlery set, ivory and steel in leather case, perhaps German or Scandinavian, ca. 1650-1700 |
Physical description | Cylindrical leather cutlery case containing 13 knives and 13 forks including one larger carving knife and fork with pointed blades for spearing food, all carved with lions heads. The pupils of their eyes coloured with black pigment. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Purchased in 1856 for £12 (vendor unrecorded). |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This cutlery set containing one large knife and fork and thirteen smaller knives and forks, are carved with lion's heads. They are housed in a cylindrical leather case. Their style suggests they are likely to date from the second half of the seventeenth century, and were made in Germany, or perhaps Scandinavia. 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. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 1549 to H-1856 |
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Record created | December 9, 2004 |
Record URL |
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