Cutlery Set
1690-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In the 17th century it was not yet common for hosts to provide cutlery when entertaining guests to dinner. Most people of rank had their own personal eating implements, usually a knife and spoon, with a fork increasingly included towards the end of the century, which were carried in a fitted case. Filigree, which became highly fashionable in Europe in the second half of the 17th century, was often used to decorate these expensive implements.
This set of cutlery was discovered in a secret drawer of an old cabinet at Christchurch Mansion, on the outskirts of Ipswich, where Charles II was known to have stayed. It was traditionally believed that this cutlery set was once owned by Charles II, but the marks show that it was not made until after his death.
This set of cutlery was discovered in a secret drawer of an old cabinet at Christchurch Mansion, on the outskirts of Ipswich, where Charles II was known to have stayed. It was traditionally believed that this cutlery set was once owned by Charles II, but the marks show that it was not made until after his death.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | |
Brief description | Cutlery set comprising knife, fork and spoon with silver filigree handles, Augsburg (Germany), 1690-1700. |
Physical description | Cutlery set comprising knife, fork and spoon with tapering handles formed of open filigree in two vertical halves, joined by a strip of twisted wire, with a domed rosette cap at the top. |
Object history | This set of cutlery was discovered in a secret drawer of an old cabinet at Christchurch Mansion, on the outskirts of Ipswich where Charles II was known to have stayed. It is possible but not proven that this cutlery set was once owned by Charles II. |
Summary | In the 17th century it was not yet common for hosts to provide cutlery when entertaining guests to dinner. Most people of rank had their own personal eating implements, usually a knife and spoon, with a fork increasingly included towards the end of the century, which were carried in a fitted case. Filigree, which became highly fashionable in Europe in the second half of the 17th century, was often used to decorate these expensive implements. This set of cutlery was discovered in a secret drawer of an old cabinet at Christchurch Mansion, on the outskirts of Ipswich, where Charles II was known to have stayed. It was traditionally believed that this cutlery set was once owned by Charles II, but the marks show that it was not made until after his death. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 495toB-1902 |
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 | March 4, 2005 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest