Name/Title
Carving KnifeEntry/Object ID
1997.500.2Description
Carving knife with steel blade and antler handles with metal end button. It has a silver band wih a tulip motif on the collar. A maker's mark appears on the knife's blade that reads, "Sheffield EPU Cutlery England" along with a star and cross beneath "VR" and a depiction of a crown.Context
"Sheffield Silver" is used to reference any metal object with the appearance of silver originating from Sheffield, England.
The original trademark of Joseph Rodgers' (1742–1821) cutlery, a six-pointed star and a Maltese cross, was first granted in 1682 to Benjamin Rich. In 1724, it was let to Joseph's father, John Rodgers (1701–1785), and it was officially registered in 1764. Although Joseph's father, John (1701–1785), and his brothers were involved in the trade, Joseph's appointment as the cutler of the Royal Family in 1821 cemented the firm as the most famous knife maker of the Sheffield style. The "VR" marking on the blade indicates the blade was created during the reign of Queen Victoria (1819–1901).
Upon Joseph's death in 1821, his four sons John (1779–1859), Joseph (1785–1867), Maurice (1787–1827), and George (1789–1842), continued the business under the name Joseph Rodgers & Sons at the longtime showroom, No. 6 Norfolk Street.
The company's appointment by five successive sovereigns ensured its ongoing popularity, as did two famous knives created by John: the Year Knife and the Norfolk Knife, the latter of which showcased at The Great Exhibition of 1851. By the late nineteenth century, the firm operated Sheffield's largest cutlery factory and exported sets like this to markets across the world.Made/Created
Manufacturer
Joseph Rodgers and SonsDate made
circa 1837 - circa 1901Place
City
Sheffield, EnglandCountry
England
