APPARENTLY ONLY THE FORK MARKED WITH A DUTCH TAX MARK FOR LOCALLY MADE SILVERWARE (1906-1953), THE NETHERLANDS, CIRCA 1630

Details

A Dutch silver "wedding" fork and knife
Apparently only the fork marked with a Dutch tax mark for locally made silverware (1906-1953), The Netherlands, circa 1630
The fork on both sides decorated with two panels enclosed within beaded borders, one side with the upper pannel depicts Susannah and the Elders; the lower panel, a female figure symbolizing Charity, in between the panels an angel, foliage and fruit; the other side the upper panel depicts the Trial of the Elders; the lower panel, a female figure symbolizing Hope, in between the panels an angel holding fruit and a corn-ear, the pierced top engraved with a figure symbolizing Terra, the other side a figure symbolizing Aqua; the knife with a similar composition, the upper panel depicts the Accusation of the Elders, the lower panel with a female figure symbolizing Prudence, in between an angel holding a bunch of fruit, on reverse the upper panel depicts the Lapidation of the Elders, the lower panel a female figure symbolizing Faith, in between an angel holding a bunch of fruit, the pierced top engraved with a figure symbolizing Aer, the other side with Ignis with moulded finial, the fork and knive each inscribed Anna.Engelbrecht and A.Dieu.Seul.honneur
22.4cm. long (knife)
fork marked on handle (2)

Literature

For an identical knife and fork (with the same inscription) see Frederiks, J.W., Dutch Silver part II, The Hague, 1958 page 49, no 138 and page 41, no 138A and 138B

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000 (NLG 198.334). If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the hammer price of a lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

Lot Essay

During the 17th Century man and women always carried a knife. It was carried in a sheath or hung down from the girdle. As the haft always stayed visible, much attention was paid to the decoration of it. Especially during the 17th Century lavishly decorated hafts were produced in The Netherlands. Artists like Jan Theodoor de Brij (1561-1632) and his pupil Michel le Blon (1587-1656) had a large influence upon the contemporary haft decoration. Many 17th Century knives were marriage gifts as may be concluded from the inscriptions and depicted scenes. At the beginning of the century wedding gifts sometimes consisted of a pair of knives. However, by the middle of the century one of the knives was gradually replaced by a fork. These sets were usually kept together in leather cases or they hung down from the girdle in a sheath together with the knife.

Comparative Literature: B.W.G. Wttewaal, Nederlands Klein Zilver, 1650-1880, Amsterdam,1987, pp.158-167.
Exh. Cat. Messen en Vorken in Nederland 1500-1800, Den Haag, Gemeentemuseum, 1972.

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