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 |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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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 | M.200-1977 (Set) |
Collection | |
Accession number | M.200A-1977 |
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Record created | May 27, 2009 |
Record URL |
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