Medieval & Renaissance Cutlery

This linkspage lists examples of knives, forks, and cutlery sets from before the 17th century, as well as sheaths and containers made for such sets. Some of these were used for individual place-settings; more often, these were carving-sets, and in some cases (where noted), for hunting.

• Two-tined silver fork, Greco-Roman era; found in Susa, Iran
• Two-tined silver fork with animal-hoof finial, Byzantium or Syria, 4th century
• Two-tined bronze fork, 8th-11th century; found in Susa, Iran
• Two-tined bronze fork, 8th-11th century; found in Susa, Iran
• Small knife found on the banks of the Thames, inscribed 'OSMHND', c. 1000
• Knife with a crystal pommel and enamel, inscribed "AVE MARIA - GRACIA PLENA," 14th century Spain
• Ivory knife-handle with a pair of lovers, made in France c. 1300-1330
• Ivory knife-handle with the God of Love and a pair of lovers, made in France c. 1325-1350
• Knife with an ivory handle (an archer), 1380-1400
• A set of knives with sheath, Dijon or Paris, c. 1385-1404

Some knifemakers in the Mendel Hausbuch: 5r (c. 1425), 12v (c. 1425), 68r (1447), 91v (1472), 95v (1476), and 116r (1501)

• Bone knife-handle: A woman holding a book, 15th century (back)
• A knife from Kempten, 15th century
• A knife from Kempten, 15th century
• A carving-knife with sheath, 15th century
• Carving knives with the arms of Spain, 15th century; the two knives on the left belonged to Philip the Good
• Knife-handle with niello decoration, 15th century
• Set of three knives with a sheath, second half of the 15th century
• Hunting-knife and sharpener in sheath made for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, c. 1450-1500
• A sucket-fork rests on a table by a footed bowl in a detail from The Annunciation from a Viennese altarpiece, c. 1460-1470
• Knife and fork with ivory handles and wooden sheath, Flanders, 1504 (also here)
• Sapi-Portuguese ivory fork, 16th century (also here)
• A set of cutlery made in Germany (?) in the 16th century; includes three presentoirs, a knife, and a fork
• A knife made in Germany in the 16th century
• A knife with gilding and engraving made in Germany in the 16th century
• Fork with ivory handle, Germany, 16th century
• Knife with carved ivory handle of Cleopatra's suicide, 16th century
• Ivory knife-handle with the personification of Charity, 16th century France (back)
• A set from Lyon: fork, three knives, and a sheath, France, 16th century
• Huntsman's set: three forks, two knives, and a sheath, France or Italy, 16th century
• Silver fork, Naples, 16th century
• Presentoir, 16th century Italy
• Presentoir, 16th century Germany
• Leather sheath for a set of knives with an armorial design, 16th century
• Knife with a dragon's head on the handle, Flanders, 16th century
• Knife and fork-handle, Germany or France, c. 1530-1580 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number 2254&A-1855)
• Knife with jade handle inlaid with gold and set with gems, Turkey, mid-16th century
• Table-knife with ivory handle, second half of the 16th century
• Knife and fork with gilt-silver handles, Nuremburg, 1551-1600
• Cutlery set with case in engraved steel and ivory: a fork and twelve knives, Germany, c. 1560 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number 2165 to M-1855)

I observed a custome in all those Italian Cities and Townes through the which I passed, that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels, neither doe I thinke that any other nation of Christendome doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian and also most strangers that are commorant in Italy, doe alwaies at their meales use a little forke when they cut their meat. For while with their knife which they hold in one hand they cut the meate out of the dish, they fasten their forke which they hold in their other hand upon the same dish, so that whatsoever he be that sitting in the company of any others at meale, should unadvisedly touch the dish of meate with his fingers from which all at the table doe cut, he will give occasion of offence unto the company, as having transgressed the lawes of good manners, in so much that for his error he shall be at the least brow-beaten, if not reprehended in wordes. This forme of feeding I understand is generally used in all places of Italy, their forkes being for the most part made of yron or steele, and some of silver, but those are used only by Gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is, because the Italian cannot by any means indure to have his dish touched with fingers, seing all mens fingers are not alike cleane. Hereupon I my selfe thought good to imitate the Italian fashion by this forked cutting of meate, not only while I was in taly, but also in Germany, and oftentimes in England since I came home: being once quipped for that frequent using of my forke, by a certain learned Gentleman, a familiar friend of mine, one M. Laurence Whitaker, who in his merry humour doubted not to call me at table furcifer, only for using a forke at feeding, but for no other cause. Thomas Coryat, Coryat's Crudities (Observations of Lombardy), 1611

• Brass knife-handle with a bagpipe-player, Netherlands? c. 1560-1570
• Pair of ivory-handled table-knives with leather sheath, Netherlands, 1562
• Knife with a silver handle decorated with a quiver, arrows, and bows, fourth quarter of the 16th century

Sporks? A sucket fork with a spoon-bowl that attaches over the tines; these appear (in materials suggesting they were a luxury item) in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Folding fork with attachable spoon-bowl, ivory, 16th century (more views here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here); see also this related silver utensil made in 17th century southern Germany, and also these related 17th century utensils A fork with detachable spoon-bowl made in Germany (Lübeck?), c. 1590-1610

• Knife-handle with the Virtues (Charity, Temperance, Prudence, and Patience), c. 1580 (the knife-blade is from the 19th century)
• Knife and fork, with engraved brass handles set with mother-of-pearl and beads, France, c. 1580-1620 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number M.610&A-1910)
• Two knives and a leather case, 1581
• A leather case for knives, Germany, 1582
• Table-knives with the monogram of Diane de France, c. 1582-1619 (also here)
• Knife and fork, Netherlands, 1590-1600 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number M.612&A-1910)
• Boxwood sheath from a cutlery set, Netherlands, c. 1591 (the knife and fork displayed with them were probably made in the 19th century)
• Knife with an ivory handle depicting Mars, and a wooden sheath with the story of Joseph, Flanders, 16th century (also here)
• Knife and fork with wooden sheath, ivory handles depicting pairs of children; Flanders, 1595 (also here)
• A golden fork with a coral handle, c. 1590-1610
• A fork, 16th-17th century
• Two forks from the 16th-17th centuries; at right, with a woman's head on the top, and at left, with rinceaux on the handle
• Pair of wedding knives, the handles damascened in gold and silver and set with amber; linen case embroidered in silk and silver-gilt thread; England, c. 1600-1625 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number T.55 to B-1954)