Knife and Fork
1787 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These knife and fork handles are made of translucent horn with painted paper decoration underneath. The writing on the paper is in Russian script, but cannot be deciphered without taking the handles apart and damaging them.
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.
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 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Steel, with handles of translucent horn with painted paper decoration underneath |
| Brief description | Knife and fork with handles of horn over paper, silver ferrules and caps, Russia, dated 1787. |
| Physical description | Knife and fork with handles of translucent horn with painted paper decoration underneath. |
| Marks and inscriptions | (There is Russian script under the horn handles but it cannot be deciphered.) |
| Summary | These knife and fork handles are made of translucent horn with painted paper decoration underneath. The writing on the paper is in Russian script, but cannot be deciphered without taking the handles apart and damaging them. 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1475&A-1904 |
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| Record created | February 4, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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