Pair of Wedding Knives
1639 (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, gilt brass finials and silver encrusted ferrules |
Brief description | Pair of wedding knives and case, London, blades by Peter Spitser, dated 1639. |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Object history | Bought from Miss E. M. Ashworth in 1927 |
Production | Dated 1639. |
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.444 to B-1927 |
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Record created | February 3, 2004 |
Record URL |
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