Knife
ca. 1550 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The knife was the main eating implement in Europe until the middle of the 17th century. The basic form of the table knife, a single-edged blade more or less pointed, with a handle, has remained virtually the same since Antiquity, although the details of construction, shape and decoration have varied.
Owning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised.
This knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. The two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions.
The survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal.
Owning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised.
This knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. The two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions.
The survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hammered steel, rock crystal, cast silver, gilding |
| Brief description | Knife with single-edged steel blade |
| Physical description | Knife with single-edged steel blade with a scimitar shaped tip, the back curving inwards towards the point, with octagonal rock crystal handle; the tang of the blade visible through the crystal is covered with silver foil chased with foliage. The cap or finial and the shoulders are silver-gilt chiselled with floral ornament. The cap is dome shaped divided into eight panels, chiselled with floral ornament and grotesque masks. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Two parallel grooves (Marked on back of blade suggesting the knife was part of a numbered set.) |
| Gallery label | CARVING KNIFE
Rock crystal handle and silver-gilt mounts
French (?); about 1550
Rock crystal, a transparent quartz, was a highly valued material used for luxury objects in the sixteenth century. |
| Object history | The knife was purchased from Mr John Hunt in 1954 for £50. Its provenance prior to that is unknown. |
| Historical context | The knife was the main eating implement in Europe until the middle of the 17th century. The basic form of the table knife, a single-edged blade more or less pointed, with a handle, has remained virtually the same since Antiquity, although the details of construction, shape and decoration have varied. Owning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised. The knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. The survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal. The two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions. |
| Summary | The knife was the main eating implement in Europe until the middle of the 17th century. The basic form of the table knife, a single-edged blade more or less pointed, with a handle, has remained virtually the same since Antiquity, although the details of construction, shape and decoration have varied. Owning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised. This knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. The two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions. The survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.40-1954 |
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 | July 20, 2006 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
