FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY, THE STEEL BLADES BY L.F.STÄHLBERG & CO.

Porphyry was first discovered in the valley of Älvdalen (Elfdal) in 1731 but was not commercially exploited until after 1788 by Eric Hagström under the direction of Nile Adam Bielke. An inventory prepared by the Stockholm Mining Intendance in the early 19th century, lists no less than twenty-two varieties of porphyry, among which Blyberg, Rannas, Tinguait, Orrlok, Dysberg, Bredvad, and Klytt, each of which was named after the parishes of Älvdalen from which they were quarried (H. Sundblom and I. Tunander, Porphyre - La Pierre Royale, 1990, p.2). King Karl XIV Johann (1763-1844) of Sweden who developed a keen interest in this rare material, acquired the porphyry quarries upon his accession to the throne in 1818. The porphyry quarries stayed in Royal ownership until 1856.

A related set of eight silver-gilt and porphyry knives was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 9 December 2004, lot 214.