Knife, fork and case: M.61A-C-1930

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Designer: Bry, Johann Theodor de (After)

Entities

Description

Silver and steel; the knife has a steel blade and a silver handle engraved on each side with scenes from the Book of Esther; the two tined fork is similarly decorated

Silver and steel; the knife has a steel blade with parallel sides and a gilt polymorphic bolster; the silver tapering square section handle broadens towards the openwork Renaissance terminal, which has a small gilt stepped baluster finial. Each side of the handle is engraved and enamelled in black with - from the bolster - a naked woman under an arch inscribed 'PRUDENTIA' or 'FIDES', a cherub sitting on top of the arch, a scene from the Book of Esther beneath an arch inscribed 'ESTHER', and - on the finial - a crowned winged heart and squirrel with fruit, or a winged cherub's head and basket of flowers. The fork has two long steel tines with a bolster and silver handle decorated similarly to that of the knife, except above a naked woman and Bacchic man are arches inscribed 'CIRES' and BACCHVS. The rectangular case is covered in brown leather with a tooled gilt border round the hinged lid. The fitted interior is lined with green velvet.

Notes

History note: Frank Smart Collection

Legal notes

From the Frank Smart Collection, given by T.J.G. Duncanson

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1930) by Duncanson, T. J. G.

Dating

17th Century, Early#
Production date: circa AD 1600

School or Style

Dutch

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Handle composed of silver
Blade composed of steel
Box Lining composed of velvet
Box composed of leather Length 23 cm Width 4.9 cm
Fork Length 19.8 cm
Knife Length 21 cm

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: a scythe or sickle

Location: On the blade
Method of creation: Inlaid in gold
Type: Cutler's mark

Text: ESTHER
Location: Over depiction from the Book of Esther
Method of creation: Engraved
Type: Inscription

Inscription present: 'FIDES', 'PRUDENTIA', 'CERES' or 'BACCHVS'

Location: Over each naked woman or Bacchic figure
Method of creation: Engraved
Type: Inscription

Text: 124 A KNIFE AND FORK, the grips of silver, engraved with The History of Esther, probably the work of Simon de Passe - early 17th Century
Location: On the base of the case
Method of creation: Printed on paper and glued
Type: Inscription