Pair of knives: M.41A & B-1930

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Cutlery

Description

Ivory and steel, parcel-gilt; each knife with a steel blade chased with images of two saints and an ivory handle carved with a terminal of a man's head

Ivory and steel, parcel-gilt; each knife has a steel blade with parallel sides and a pointed and slightly upward curving tip; and a handle of carved ivory. Each side of the bolster end of knife's blade is chased or etched with a saint beneath which is a panel containing an inscription on a gilt ground. Knife A has an image of St. Mathias above 'S. MATT / HIAS / 1624' and St. Philip above 'S. PHIL / IPPVS'. Knife B has an image of St. James the Greater above 'S. JACOB / VS MAI / OR 16 / 24' and St. John above 'S. IOAN / NES' The handle is oval in section and broadens towards the finial. It is carved with a pattern of lozenges, and the terminal is carved as a head of bearded man with the lips painted red.

Notes

History note: Frank Smart Collection

Legal notes

From the Frank Smart Collection, given by T.J.G. Duncanson

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1930) by Duncanson, T. J. G.

Dating

17th Century, Early#
Production date: dated AD 1624 : both knives are dated 1624

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Surface Decoration composed of gold
Blade composed of steel
Handle composed of ivory
Knife B Length 21.5 cm
Knife A Length 21.6 cm
Ivory

Inscription or legends present

Text: S. MATT / HIAS / 1624
Location: On A at bolster end of blade, i.e. the top
Method of creation: Engraved ?
Type: Inscription

Text: S. PHIL / IPPVS
Location: On A at bolster end of blade, i.e. thye top
Method of creation: Engraved ?
Type: Inscription

Text: S. JACOB / VS MAI / OR 16 / 24
Location: On B at bolster end of blade, i.e. the top
Method of creation: Engraved?
Type: Inscription

Text: S. IOAN / NES
Location: At bolster end of blade, i.e. the top
Method of creation: Engraved ?
Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Feast and Fast: The Art of Food in Europe (1500-1800)

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.41A & B-1930
Primary reference Number: 167097
Old object number: M.2-1930
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 1 October 2020

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

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Citation for print

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Pair of knives" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/167097 Accessed: 2024-04-19 14:29:48

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            {{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/167097
            |title=Pair of knives
            |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-19 14:29:48|publisher=The
            University of Cambridge}}

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