Maker: Unknown
Boiled leather case for holding cutlery; decorated with stamped and engraved borders and an oval cartouche containing a tree
Boiled, stamped and engraved leather (cuir bouilli) case, with three internal compartments, probably for holding a knife, fork and spoon. The domed pull-off lid and tapering body have two suspension loops on each side, through which a cord would have been threaded. The case is decorated with borders of scrolling foliage on a matted ground, diaperwork and an oval cartouche containing pseudo armorials of a tree.
History note: From the Fitzhenry Collection, and later the Spitzer Collection
Given by W.E Miller
Height: 5.0 cm
Length: 24.5 cm
Width: 6.6 cm
Method of acquisition: Given (1929-10-31) by Miller, W. E.
16th Century, Mid-17th Century#
1550
-
1650
Cuir bouilli : There is much conjecture on how 'boiled leather' or 'cuir bouilli' was made and whether the leather was boiled in water. The most popular theory is the one suggested in 'La Grande Encyclopedie (Paris 1887-1905) in which: 'pieces of leather must be boiled in wax mixed with resin and glue. Once boiled in this manner, the leather preserves, whilst it is moist, sufficient pliability to enable it to be moulded, and when it is dry it possess a hardness and rigidity nearly equal to that of wood to which it is preferable by reason of its lightness.' The stamped and engraved decoration would have been added before the leather was dried.
Accession number: M.35 & A-1929
Primary reference Number: 150666
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Cutlery case" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150666 Accessed: 2024-12-24 12:36:43
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150666
|title=Cutlery case
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-24 12:36:43|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-150666
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