Pair of Wedding Knives
1638 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Originally it was customary for a pair of knives to be given as part of a bridal trousseau. Later on, a matching knife and fork was given instead. The practice of giving knives first started in England during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47), but the custom has longer traditions on the Continent. Marriage contracts in the mid 14th century record the 'attest of knife'. This practice derived from the convention of presenting a purchaser with a knife when conveying property.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Steel blades with amber and ivory handles, silver filigree finials and silver encrusted ferrules |
| Brief description | Pair of wedding knives in an embroidered case, English, possibly London, dated 1638. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Bought at Christie's, London, 1 May 1950, lot 143. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Originally it was customary for a pair of knives to be given as part of a bridal trousseau. Later on, a matching knife and fork was given instead. The practice of giving knives first started in England during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47), but the custom has longer traditions on the Continent. Marriage contracts in the mid 14th century record the 'attest of knife'. This practice derived from the convention of presenting a purchaser with a knife when conveying property. |
| 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 | M.12 to B-1950 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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