Ivory was a favoured material for decorative carving on tankards, caskets and cutlery. Carved ivory employed the techniques of sculpture and was fashionable for gentlemen who wished to demonstrate their worldliness and wealth. These handles have three ‘putti’ (children) among bunches of fruit. The subject is called ‘Kinderbacchanal’ in German.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case.
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.