{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O90684"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O90684/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9492/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9492/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AJ9492","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O90684/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O90684","accessionNumber":"M.99&A-1923","objectType":"Wedding knife and fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Originally it was customary for a pair of knives to be given as part of a bridal trousseau. Later on, a matching knife and fork was given instead. The practice of giving knives first started in England during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47), but the custom has longer traditions on the Continent. Marriage contracts in the mid 14th century record the ‘attest of knife’. This practice derived from the convention of presenting a purchaser with a knife when conveying property.","physicalDescription":"The clear amber handles are carved with the heads of a man on the knife and a woman on the fork. The lengths of the handles are carved in low relief with bands of cabling. Steel tangs covered in gold-coloured foil run through the centre of each, with a gilt brass cap finial. The gilt steel ferrules are encrusted in silver gilt with a pattern of stylised scallops. The balde of the knife is marked with a crescent above a cross on its side.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Amber handles with steel blade and tines, encrusted silver gilt ferrules and gilt brass caps","categories":[{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Marriage","id":"THES48921"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AJ9492"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"023","id":"THES410421"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"023","id":"THES410421"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"knife (culinary tool)","id":""}],[{"text":"Fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Stolp","id":"x37436"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"mid 17th century","earliest":"1625-01-01","latest":"1675-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Alfred Williams Hearn Gift","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Wedding knife and fork, steel with amber handles, North East German, perhaps Stolp, mid 17th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie. <u>Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u>  London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. 119 p., ill. ISBN 0948107138."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cable mouldings","id":"AAT3493"},{"text":"scalloping","id":"AAT165381"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.99A-1923","M.99-1923"],"accessionNumberNum":"99","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1923,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Fork","knife (culinary tool)"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-02","availableToBook":true}}