{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O295367"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O295367/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9409/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9409/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AJ9409","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O295367/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O295367","accessionNumber":"1323E/1-1854","objectType":"Knife","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In the 17th century, sets of matching cutlery were still a novelty, and highly prized.  The culture of the day demanded that they ‘should not be merely polished and abundant but also rare and distinct.’  It was the sign of a gentleman that he possessed cutlery made of unusual and valuable materials, and many knives, forks and spoons of this period have handles of agate, ivory, or other precious materials.  \r\n\r\nThese sets were at first restricted to a single knife, fork and spoon, which were carried in a fitted case for the personal use of the owner.  It was not until the end of the 17th century that sets of multiple pieces, provided by the host rather than the guest, began to appear.  This set was originally described as 17th-century Italian when it was acquired by the Museum in 1854, but it is more likely that it was made later, perhaps not long before it was acquired.\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Knife with cylindrical tapering handle of cloudy agate and steel blade.  The handle has a band of silver-gilt filigree round the base and is capped with a filigree rosette on the top, attached to the tang.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"},{"text":"agate","id":"AAT11135"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"}],"techniques":[{"text":"filigree","id":"x35885"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cloudy agate capped with silver-gilt filigree with a steel blade","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AJ9409"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CB013","id":"THES408634"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"knife (culinary tool)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1850","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"17.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"17.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum width of handle","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A cross.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Cutler's mark.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On blade."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Knife with handle of cloudy agate with silver-gilt filigree and steel blade, possibly Germany, 1800-1850.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1323E/1-1854"],"accessionNumberNum":"1323","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1854,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-06","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}