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Case of 12 knives

WB.208     1600–1700 • Gilt-tooled leather; ivory • knife knife-case

Curator's Description

Leather case of twelve knives with ivory handles; blades widen towards ends; all with coat of arms etched on gilt ground: tree growing from concentric circles; handles plain and circular; rounded case with gilt stamped borders forming four panels in sides, containing swan and rampant lion alternately; cap cover of same designs, same coat of arms as blades engraved on top.

This object was collected and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In

France ?
French (?)

What is it?

knife knife-case

Made Of

metal leather gold ivory

Techniques

etched gilded engraved stamped

Subjects

bird heraldry mammal tree / bush

How big is it?

11.6 cm wide, 31.8 cm high, 0.2 cm deep, and it weighs 1.9 kg

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 5a 28

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: None is recorded.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 208
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.208.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927

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