Cutlery Set
ca. 1650 - ca. 1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This pair of a fork and knife in a later boxwood sheath is Italian and made in about 1650-700.
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 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Ivory carved with steel blade, partly gilt, in later boxwood sheath |
| Brief description | Knife and Fork, carved ivory with steel in later boxwood sheath, with entwined wild animals, Italy, ca. 1650-1700 |
| Physical description | Carved ivory handled knife and fork both carved with entwined wild animals with a carved boxwood case. |
| Object history | The boxwood case does not originally belong to the cutlery. Bought in 1856 (vendor unrecorded). |
| Summary | This pair of a fork and knife in a later boxwood sheath is Italian and made in about 1650-700. 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 | 3647:1 to 3-1856 |
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| Record created | June 3, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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