{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O90756"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O90756/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9624/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9624/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AJ9624","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KU0270","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O90756/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O90756","accessionNumber":"M.444 to B-1927","objectType":"Pair of wedding knives","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":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Spitser, Peter","id":"A11674"},"association":{"text":"cutler","id":"AAT236522"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"amber","id":"AAT12934"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel blades with amber and ivory handles, gilt brass finials and silver encrusted ferrules","categories":[{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Marriage","id":"THES48921"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AJ9624","2018KU0270"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"021","id":"THES408996"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"116 (VA)","id":"THES49908"},"free":"","case":"DR8","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES408982"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"knife (culinary tool)","id":""}],[{"text":"knife (culinary tool)","id":""}],[{"text":"Sheath","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1639","earliest":"1639-01-01","latest":"1639-12-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A unicorn's head mark for Peter Spitzer, two references in the minutes of the Cutler's Company in 1621 and 1662.  See Welch vol. II. p.42","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Inscribed and Painted","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bought from Miss E. M. Ashworth in 1927","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pair of wedding knives and case, London, blades by Peter Spitser, dated 1639.","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":"Dated 1639.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"fruit","id":"AAT11868"},{"text":"dog","id":"x30186"},{"text":"hare","id":"x30063"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.444-1927","M.444A-1927","M.444B-1927"],"accessionNumberNum":"444","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1927,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","knife (culinary tool) [1]","knife (culinary tool) [2]","Sheath"],"assets":["2016JJ7097","2019LR6691","2019LX0647"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-16","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-03","availableToBook":false}}