Knife
ca. 1580 - ca. 1603 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This knife of ivory with a steel blade damascened in gold and silver, represents a full figure of Queen Elizabeth I of England holding an orb and a sceptre. The object is likely to date from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, during Elizabeth I's reign.
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 | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel with carved ivory and silver and gold damascene |
| Brief description | Knife, ivory and steel blade, inscribed in damascened ferrule with gold and silver, carved with a figure of Queen Elizabeth I, British, ca. 1580-1603 |
| Physical description | Knife with an ivory handle carved with a full length figure of Queen Elizabeth I, holding an orb and a sceptre. The ferrule is damascened with gold and silver. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Miss E. Jane Urwick, Vauxhall Bridge Road in 1925 |
| Object history | Given by Miss E. Jane Urwick, Vauxhall Bridge Road in 1925. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This knife of ivory with a steel blade damascened in gold and silver, represents a full figure of Queen Elizabeth I of England holding an orb and a sceptre. The object is likely to date from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, during Elizabeth I's reign. 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 | M.226-1925 |
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| Record created | April 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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