{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O126271"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126271/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KY2307/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KY2307/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018KY2307","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KT1473","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O126271/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O126271","accessionNumber":"M.40-1954","objectType":"Knife","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The knife was the main eating implement in Europe until the middle of the 17th century. The basic form of the table knife, a single-edged blade more or less pointed, with a handle, has remained virtually the same since Antiquity, although the details of construction, shape and decoration have varied.\r\n\r\nOwning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised. \r\n\r\nThis knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. The two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions.\r\n\r\nThe survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal.","physicalDescription":"Knife with single-edged steel blade with a scimitar shaped tip, the back curving inwards towards the point, with octagonal rock crystal handle; the tang of the blade visible through the crystal is covered with silver foil chased with foliage. The cap or finial and the shoulders are silver-gilt chiselled with floral ornament. The cap is dome shaped divided into eight panels, chiselled with floral ornament and grotesque masks.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"Rock crystal","id":"AAT11152"},{"text":"Silver-gilt","id":"x37998"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Hammering","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"Casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"Gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"Punching","id":"AAT235631"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hammered steel, rock crystal, cast silver, gilding","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"}],"styles":[{"text":"Renaissance","id":"AAT21140"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2018KY2307","2018KT1473"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES404593"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"knife (culinary tool)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1550","earliest":"1545-01-01","latest":"1554-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"28.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"18.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"blade","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"10.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"handle","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Two parallel grooves","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Marked on back of blade suggesting the knife was part of a numbered set."}],"objectHistory":"The knife was purchased from Mr John Hunt in 1954 for £50. Its provenance prior to that is unknown.","historicalContext":"The knife was the main eating implement in Europe until the middle of the 17th century. The basic form of the table knife, a single-edged blade more or less pointed, with a handle, has remained virtually the same since Antiquity, although the details of construction, shape and decoration have varied.\r\n\r\nOwning fine cutlery in the 16th century was an outward sign of wealth, elegance and refinement. It was normal practice for everyone to carry their own cutlery, especially a knife, in a leather case. Cutlery remained individual and personalised. \r\n\r\nThe knife handle is made of rock crystal, a pure silica or quartz in a transparent and colourless form that can be cut into finely defined shapes. Many pieces of cutlery made of precious materials survive suggesting they were not used much but were treasured. \r\n\r\nThe survival rate also suggests that knives were not subjected to hard, repeated use. Although this knife is sharply pointed to enable it both to cut and skewer meat, fingers were used for much of the meal.\r\n\r\nThe two notches on the blade of this knife suggest it was once No. 2 in a set. Sets of knives were still relatively unusual in the mid-16th century. They were often stored in leather cases or in cutlery cabinets for use on special occasions.","briefDescription":"Knife with single-edged steel blade","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Masterpieces of Cutlery and the Art of Eating</u>, An Exhibition organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Cutlers of London, London 1979"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Coffin, Sarah D. et al, <u>Feeding Desire: Design and the Tools of the Table 1500-2005</u>, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Assouline, New York 2006"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"CARVING KNIFE\r\nRock crystal handle and silver-gilt mounts\r\nFrench (?); about 1550\r\nRock crystal, a transparent quartz, was a highly valued material used for luxury objects in the sixteenth century.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.40-1954"],"accessionNumberNum":"40","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1954,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW2633","2019LV9208"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2006-07-20","availableToBook":true}}