Fork
1634 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Amber is a soft fossil resin. It requires great skill to carve as it is extremely fragile. Most amber arrived in England in the 1630s from the Baltic Coast. Gold foil was often used as an underlay, as its glow enhanced the colour of the amber.
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.
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 | |
| Materials and techniques | Amber over painted metal foil with silver panels, gilt steel, steel and gilt brass |
| Brief description | Steel fork with an amber handle, one of a set of one fork and twelve knives, North East Germany, perhaps Stolp, dated 1634. |
| Physical description | The handle has a steel tang with a gilt brass cap and a ball finial running down through the hollow centre of the amber to attach it to the gilt steel ferrule and steel tines. A piece of clear amber craved in the shape of a segmented vase forms the top of the handle, while the main body of the handle consists of a clear amber panel over foil painted in red, black and gold with a full length figure of Christ and an inscription with an extract in Latin from the Gospel of St. John. On the sides are set two silver panels inscribed 'Leonardus Marius' and '1634'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Part of a set of twelve knives and one fork bought in the sale of the collection of the Earl of Londesborough at Christie's, London, 10 July 1888, lot 665. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Amber is a soft fossil resin. It requires great skill to carve as it is extremely fragile. Most amber arrived in England in the 1630s from the Baltic Coast. Gold foil was often used as an underlay, as its glow enhanced the colour of the amber. 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 reference | Trusted, Marjorie. Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. 119 p., ill. ISBN 0948107138. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1391-1888 |
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| Record created | February 2, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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