Romney Plain Pine
Knife
1932-1936 (designed and made)
1932-1936 (designed and made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Walter Patrick Belk initially designed this service for the dining rooms of the Queen Mary. It proved so popular that it was also used for another of Cunard’s transatlantic liners, the Queen Elizabeth, sister ship of the Queen Mary.
In the first half of the 20th century, Roberts and Belk were a well-known firm of manufacturing platers and silversmiths. They had been established in Sheffield in 1810. In 1901 the firm converted into a limited liability company, the first directors being Charles Belk and Walter Belk. In 1961 it was purchased by the London manufacturing silversmiths, C. J. Vander Ltd.
Traditionally, Roberts and Belk had a ‘high-class’ goods range – ‘ every piece designed by the firm’s own staff’. Walter Belk (1872-1963) was originally an architect. As director of this important firm, he was immensely supportive of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s schemes to improve design in silver. He was elected to the Livery of the Company in 1929.
In the first half of the 20th century, Roberts and Belk were a well-known firm of manufacturing platers and silversmiths. They had been established in Sheffield in 1810. In 1901 the firm converted into a limited liability company, the first directors being Charles Belk and Walter Belk. In 1961 it was purchased by the London manufacturing silversmiths, C. J. Vander Ltd.
Traditionally, Roberts and Belk had a ‘high-class’ goods range – ‘ every piece designed by the firm’s own staff’. Walter Belk (1872-1963) was originally an architect. As director of this important firm, he was immensely supportive of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s schemes to improve design in silver. He was elected to the Livery of the Company in 1929.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Romney Plain Pine (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Electroplated nickel silver and stainless steel |
| Brief description | Knife, `Plain Pine', electroplate and stainless steel, Sheffield, made by Roberts & Belk Ltd., 1932-36, designed by Walter Patrick Belk. |
| Physical description | Knife, the blade of stainless steel, the top edge straight, rounded tip and curved underside, the haft of electroplated nickel silver, chamfered edges with a fleche pattern. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | The lamp / ROBERTS & BELK Ltd / FURNIVAL WORKS / SHEFFIELD / RUSTLESS (Stamped on the blade) |
| Association | |
| Summary | Walter Patrick Belk initially designed this service for the dining rooms of the Queen Mary. It proved so popular that it was also used for another of Cunard’s transatlantic liners, the Queen Elizabeth, sister ship of the Queen Mary. In the first half of the 20th century, Roberts and Belk were a well-known firm of manufacturing platers and silversmiths. They had been established in Sheffield in 1810. In 1901 the firm converted into a limited liability company, the first directors being Charles Belk and Walter Belk. In 1961 it was purchased by the London manufacturing silversmiths, C. J. Vander Ltd. Traditionally, Roberts and Belk had a ‘high-class’ goods range – ‘ every piece designed by the firm’s own staff’. Walter Belk (1872-1963) was originally an architect. As director of this important firm, he was immensely supportive of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s schemes to improve design in silver. He was elected to the Livery of the Company in 1929. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.124-1937 |
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 | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
