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Cutlery set

Cutlery set

  • Place of origin:

    Germany (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1560 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Engraved steel and ivory

  • Museum number:

    2165 to M-1855

  • Gallery location:

    Metalware, room 116, case DR7

  • Download image

This ivory knife case contains 12 knives and one fork. Knife cases such as this were designed to be portable. A black substance has been rubbed into the engraving to emphasise the outlines. Ivory was prized during the 16th century for its beauty and rarity.

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.

Physical description

Ivory cutlery case containing 12 knives and one fork. The case and handles are engraved with full-length figures of emperors and knights and a frieze of hunting subjects. The engraving is filled in with a black substance.

Place of Origin

Germany (made)

Date

ca. 1560 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Engraved steel and ivory

Dimensions

[knifecase] Length: 22.1 cm, Width: 7.2 cm maximum
[knife (culinary tool)] Length: 19.6 cm, Width: 1.8 cm maximum
[fork] Length: 23.7 cm, Width: 0.8 cm maximum

Labels and date

SET OF KNIVES AND ONE FORK
Handles and case of ivory, engraved in the style of Virgil Solis of Nuremberg (b.1514; d.1562)
German; 16th century

Materials

Ivory; Steel

Techniques

Engraved

Categories

Metalwork; Tableware & cutlery; Eating

Collection code

MET

Download image
Qr_O109003
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