Posted 9 years ago
CollectorPJF
(2 items)
I found this at my grandmothers house, she is 97. It comes in a silver case and has what looks like a crown, a lion, the letter U and JYC stamped into the blade. Any ideas what it is and how old it might be? I think the handle might be mother of pearl, or something similar?
Thanks
This is a fruit knife. Silver does not cause fruit to discolor when cut like steel does so silver was used for blades on knives specifically for cutting fruit. (Not to be confused with "melon knives" which are a completely different thing but are sometimes miss-named fruit knives.) The crown stamp indicate that it was made in Sheffield, England. The lion passant indicates that the blade is Sterling Silver. JYC is the maker, John Yeomans Cowlishaw (1830-1895). He made fruit knives from 1854 until his death and his sons used the mark until ca. 1920. That specific font for the letter "U" indicates that it was made between mid-1887 and mid-1888. The case in not original. This knife would have come in a cardboard case like an old straight razor.
Good show that, UncleRon. New wrinkle here.
Actually, - I don't need any new wrinkles !
Thanks for the info UncleRon. I'm curious about the silver case it was in as it seems a perfect fit. Also would the outside be mother of pearl or something else?
I've seen a lot of those cases but I can't remember what they are for just now, but I assure you the knife did not come in a metal case. If you've ever seen an old straight razor in a cardboard case with a lid that slips off the end - that's what high-end British cutlery was packaged in back in the 19th C. I'll post a show & tell item on this site to show you a fruit knife with its original case. Yes, the handles are "mother-of-pearl." The knife blade, bolsters, shield, & pins are silver and if the spine has a fancy pattern embossed on the spring, that is a thin layer of textured silver soldered onto the steel spring.