Images(4)

Knife Box

Date1745-1765

OriginEngland

Mediumwood (possibly deal), shagreen, brass, silk, linen, and metal (probably silver foil) wrapped silk, paper

DimensionsOH: 12 1/2"; OW: 9"; OD: 5 1/2"

Credit LineBequest of Dr. William E. Strole, Jr.

Object number2026-98

DescriptionShagreen covered knife with box rounded front and slanted lid; interior pierced surface for 24 knives and forks; interior lined with red velvet with white/silver trim, and stamped and colored paper inside lid. Pierced brass handle on lid; brass hasp and keyhole escutcheon on lid and font of case.

The knife box interior is upholstered in a red silk velvet, comprising a silk pile on a linen ground weave. It is trimmed in a linen-silk combination trim, of white linen threads and metal-wrapped silk threads, now dark but estimated to be silver originally.