Carving Set
1682 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
A 'présentoir' or serving knife served carved meat to diners. The blade of this one is decorated with an etched design. The design was painted in an acid-resistant material before the object was dipped into an acid bath. The acid ate into the exposed metal leaving the design in relief. The handles are decorated with piqué work: thin strips of silver inlaid into ivory. Coloured enamels and lacquers add depth to the flower patterns.
Cutlers specialised in making blades. They trained as apprentices for up to seven years, working for a freeman cutler who housed and fed them. In England a cutler would have to prove himself as bladesmith and hafter (maker of handles) in order to obtain the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, gain his own mark and set up his own business.
Many cutlers acted as middlemen who bought blades from bladesmiths, handles from hafters and sheaths from sheathers. They assembled the cutlery themselves and sold them under their own names.
Cutlers specialised in making blades. They trained as apprentices for up to seven years, working for a freeman cutler who housed and fed them. In England a cutler would have to prove himself as bladesmith and hafter (maker of handles) in order to obtain the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, gain his own mark and set up his own business.
Many cutlers acted as middlemen who bought blades from bladesmiths, handles from hafters and sheaths from sheathers. They assembled the cutlery themselves and sold them under their own names.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | Steel with ivory and silver piqué handles |
Brief description | Carving set, ivory and silver piqué, a serving knife, a carving knife and a fork, Germany, dated 1682 |
Physical description | Présentoir, carving knife and fork with handles of ivory and silver piqué work and etching on the blade. All the handles are decorated with piqué work: thin strips of silver inlaid into ivory with flower patterns. Coloured enamels and lacquers enhance the designs. The blade of the carving knife is decorated with an etched design. The handle of the presentoir is inscribed with mottos in Latin and German. The blade of the presentoir is impressed with etched designs of pomegranates and floral motifs, and further faint German words, which are not entirely legible or comprehensible. The metal collars of all three pieces are engraved with floral motifs, with remains of gilding. |
Object history | Bought from Delbougne, Brussels in 1865. |
Summary | A 'présentoir' or serving knife served carved meat to diners. The blade of this one is decorated with an etched design. The design was painted in an acid-resistant material before the object was dipped into an acid bath. The acid ate into the exposed metal leaving the design in relief. The handles are decorated with piqué work: thin strips of silver inlaid into ivory. Coloured enamels and lacquers add depth to the flower patterns. Cutlers specialised in making blades. They trained as apprentices for up to seven years, working for a freeman cutler who housed and fed them. In England a cutler would have to prove himself as bladesmith and hafter (maker of handles) in order to obtain the freedom of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, gain his own mark and set up his own business. Many cutlers acted as middlemen who bought blades from bladesmiths, handles from hafters and sheaths from sheathers. They assembled the cutlery themselves and sold them under their own names. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | 1193 to B-1864 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | January 20, 2005 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest