{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O296802"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O296802/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FJ5691/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FJ5691/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FJ5691","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O296802/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O296802","accessionNumber":"1031-1902","objectType":"Knife","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ivory and steel knife is probably German or Netherlandish and made in about 1700-1750. The handle is carved in the form of a grotesque head. \r\nKnives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case. Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.\r\n","physicalDescription":"The curved handle depicts a grotesque head, whose tongue and eyes are partly painted. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Ivory and steel","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2012FJ5691"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES408986"},"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":"probably; or probably Netherlands"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1700 - ca. 1750","earliest":"1695-01-01","latest":"1754-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"7.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"ivory alone","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq. in 1902","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Knife, ivory and steel, form of a grotesque head, probably German or Netherlandish, ca. 1700-1750","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1902, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>, London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1906, p. 263"},{"reference":{"text":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013","id":"AUTH329728"},"details":"p. 425","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, p. 425, cat. no. 441"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"grotesque head","id":"x44371"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1031-1902"],"accessionNumberNum":"1031","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1902,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-04","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}