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Cutlery Set

late 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Sheffield (made)

Before the mid 18th century, cutlery was a portable, personal possession. You took your own cutlery on the road. An expensive knife and fork, like fine jewellery and clothing, were a sign of wealth and taste. The floral decoration on this case resembles the 'wrigglework' decoration on contemporary pewter.

Object details

Categories
Eating
Metalwork
Tableware & Cutlery
Object type
Cutlery set
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Case
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Fork
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
  • Knife (Culinary Tool)
Brief description
cutlery set comprising six silver knives and a fork in an ivory case stained red and green and inlaid with silver wire, Sheffield, late 17th century
Physical description
cutlery set comprising six silver knives and a fork in an ivory case stained red and green and inlaid with silver wire
Marks and inscriptions
  • mark: T crowned and a dagger. (on blades of knives)
  • mark 'RS' within a shield (Maker's marks on handles)
Gallery label
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Before modern transport people largely travelled on foot or on horseback. Useful everyday items needed to be carried comfortably on the body. Some were miniature versions of larger objects, others folded ingeniously to become portable. Often they were intricate and delicate.

These eleven items were personal possessions. Many were made before pockets were commonplace. Some were used in the workplace, some at home and some on the road.

Many have cases as stylish as the objects they protect. These cases came in a range of materials, from expensive ivory and sharkskin to cheaper leather and wood. Their decoration shows the same designs that adorn silver, ceramics and textiles.

All these objects give us interesting insights into work, leisure and social etiquette

8 CUTLERY CASE CONTAINING SIX KNIVES AND ONE FORK
Silver and steel cutlery, with ivory and silver case
London, about 1680
Knives marked with the dagger of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, London; handles with maker's mark, RS, unidentified

Before the mid 18th century, cutlery was a portable, personal possession. You took your own cutlery on the road. An expensive knife and fork, like fine jewellery and clothing, were a sign of wealth and taste. The floral decoration on this case resembles the 'wrigglework' decoration on contemporary pewter. [49 words]

Museum no. M.302 to G-1920
Summary
Before the mid 18th century, cutlery was a portable, personal possession. You took your own cutlery on the road. An expensive knife and fork, like fine jewellery and clothing, were a sign of wealth and taste. The floral decoration on this case resembles the 'wrigglework' decoration on contemporary pewter.
Bibliographic reference
Moore, Simon. Cutlery for the table: a history of British table and pocket cutlery. Sheffield: Hallamshire Press, 1999. ISBN 1874718563
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.302toG-1920

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Record createdJune 1, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112506/cutlery-set-unknown/
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