Description

Pair of serpentine fronted flame mahogany Cutlery Boxes of fantastic colour and patination. Each one inlaid with three star motifs to the top, crossbanded in tulipwood with a chequered and herringbone stringing. The front cants have further decorative inlays of sycamore and boxwood.

Lifting the lids this very impressive pair of cutlery boxes reveals more inlays and its spectacular original green stained ivory handled twenty-four piece steel cutlery, including sterling silver dessert spoons and teaspoons. The dessert spoons are hallmarked London 1807 Thomas Wilkes Barker, Tea spoons hallmarked 1831 by Jonathan Hayne.

Each with fully working lock and tasselled keys.

In Georgian times, knife boxes were displayed on the sideboard to reflect the owner’s wealth and style. Today knife boxes make a very elegant accessory in a modern or period home.

Although normally referred to as “knife” boxes, the beautifully shaped lids open to reveal cutlery decks in which there are apertures to fit almost any kind of knives, forks, and spoons.

A pair of knife boxes is usually equipped to hold twenty four knives, forty eight forks (including dining and dessert) and forty two different size spoons. This indicates that knife boxes would have a popular accessory in large Stately Homes and Country Houses.

Additional information