Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, Decorative Arts Association Acquisition, and Sarah Cooper-Hewitt Funds
Accession Number
1996-56-61
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite dessert knife, crafted around 1890 by François Nicoud, a French artisan active in Paris circa 1875-1890, showcases the high level of skill in late 19th-century cutlery. Nicoud's work in Paris, a renowned center for luxury goods, reflects the era's emphasis on elegant tableware for formal dining. The piece is distinguished by its mother-of-pearl handle, a luxurious material known for its shimmering, iridescent quality derived from seashells. Classified as cutlery, this dessert knife would have been part of an elaborate place setting, highlighting the social importance of dining rituals at the time. Now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, acquired through special funds including those from the Decorative Arts Association, it stands as an example of decorative arts that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal. This artifact invites us to consider how everyday objects like knives were transformed into works of art through expert craftsmanship.