Cutler:
Unidentified
Handle maker:
Unknown
Case maker:
Unknown
Rock crystal, silver-gilt, and steel; the knife with steel blade and rock crystal handle with silver-gilt mounts; the three tined fork and spoon have knopped handles of facetted rock crystal with silver-gilt mounts
Rock crystal, silver-gilt, and steel; the knife (A) has a steel blade with parallel sides tapering to a sharp point; the handle is of rock crystal, of tapering rectangular form, held by a silver-gilt mount, terminal cap and broad ferrule engraved with leaves.
The fork (B) has three silver-gilt tines; its handle comprises alternating facetted knops of rock crystal - three ovoid and four spherical - separated by silver-gilt double calyxes and terminating in a cap, all cut and engraved to resemble a band of stiff leaves.
The spoon (C) has a fig-shaped rock crystal bowl held by an engraved silver-gilt mount to the handle which comprises one octagonal, three spherical and two ovoid facetted knops of rock crystal separated by silver-gilt spacers similar to those of the fork, but terminating in an small ovoid rock crystal knop with an undecorated hemisperical cap with ball knop (possibly a replacement for an earlier decorated finial).
The rectangular hinged case (D) is covered in red Morocco with tooled and gilt borders; it is lined with turquoise silk and silver braid.
History note: Frank Smart Collection
From the Frank Smart Collection, given by T.J.G. Duncanson
Method of acquisition: Given (1930) by Duncanson, T. J. G.
17th Century, Late-19th Century, Early
Circa
1640
CE
-
1900
CE
The knife blade bears a cutlers mark part of which is similar to a mark used by Dutch cutlers in the late 17th and 18th centuries. However the knife handle could also have been made in Germany, northern Italy or Spain. The fork and spoon could also have been made in any of these countries, but are 17th century in style. The case was made in Spain, but is probably 18th century. The spoon and fork fit well, but the knife is too short for the recess made to hold it. It may therefore be a replacement, or the whole set may be a Historicist piece copying a variety of earlier designs.
Case
composed of
leather
( Morroco)
Length 26 cm
Width 11.5 cm
Fork Tines
composed of
silver-gilt
Case Lining
composed of
silk
Handle
composed of
rock crystal
Spoon Bowl
composed of
rock crystal
Surface Of Mounts
composed of
gold
Mounts
composed of
silver
Knife Blade
composed of
steel
Fork
Length 20.2 cm
Spoon
Length 20 cm
Knife
Length 22 cm
Inscription present: three balls in a triangle over a trident with short tines(?)
Accession number: M.62A-D-1930
Primary reference Number: 167110
Old object number: M.2-1930
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) "Knife, fork and spoon in case" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/167110 Accessed: 2024-11-05 16:38:32
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/167110
|title=Knife, fork and spoon in case
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 16:38:32|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-167110
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