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Knife Rest

1904-1905 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Developed in the late eighteenth century to act as supports for the carving knife and fork and prevent grease spoiling the table cloth, the knife rest was sold in pairs or in cased boxes of four by the end of the nineteenth century. The design of a single bar supported on x -shaped ends could be ornamented with the use of additional decorative materials such as pearl and ivory or figurative supports in the shape of sphinx or dogs. James Dixon and Sons sold pairs of plain plated knife rests for 5/6d. Levesley Brothers manufactured in Sheffield but had a retail outlet in London. The firm went bankrupt in 1929.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
Silver, Sheffield hallmarks for 1904-5, mark of Thomas Levesley
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.2cm
  • Length: 10cm
  • Width: 3.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Sheffield hallmarks for 1904-5
  • Mark of Thomas Levesley
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss D.B. Simpson
Object history
Bequest of Miss D.B. Simpson
Developed in the late eighteenth century to act as supports for the carving knife and fork and prevent grease spoiling the table cloth, the knife rest was sold in pairs or in cased boxes of four by the end of the nineteenth century. The design of a single bar supported on x -shaped ends could be ornamented with the use of additional decorative materials such as pearl and ivory or figurative supports in the shape of sphinx or dogs. James Dixon and Sons sold pairs of plain plated knife rests for 5/6d. Levesley Brothers manufactured in Sheffield but had a retail outlet in London. The firm went bankrupt in 1929.
Summary
Developed in the late eighteenth century to act as supports for the carving knife and fork and prevent grease spoiling the table cloth, the knife rest was sold in pairs or in cased boxes of four by the end of the nineteenth century. The design of a single bar supported on x -shaped ends could be ornamented with the use of additional decorative materials such as pearl and ivory or figurative supports in the shape of sphinx or dogs. James Dixon and Sons sold pairs of plain plated knife rests for 5/6d. Levesley Brothers manufactured in Sheffield but had a retail outlet in London. The firm went bankrupt in 1929.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
M.200A-1977

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Record createdMay 27, 2009
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