When was "Knife, fork, and pen knife" created?

This artwork was created 17th century.

What medium is "Knife, fork, and pen knife"?

Knife, fork, and pen knife is Steel, tortoiseshell (or horn), silver.

Is "Knife, fork, and pen knife" in the public domain?

Yes, Knife, fork, and pen knife is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Knife, fork, and pen knife

Unknown Artist

17th century

Medium

Steel, tortoiseshell (or horn), silver

Dimensions

Length (knife, open): 8 in. (20.3 cm); Length (fork): 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); Length (pen knife, open): 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)

Classification

Metalwork-Steel

Culture

German, Saxony

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of R. Stuyvesant, 1893

Accession Number

93.13.51–.53

Art Historical Context

This exquisite set of a knife, fork, and pen knife hails from 17th-century Saxony,, a region renowned for its masterful metalworking traditions. Crafted as portable personal eating utensils, these items reflect the era's evolving table manners, when forks were gaining popularity among European elites as symbols of refinement and hygiene. No longer just functional tools, they served as status objects, carried by travelers or kept in pockets for daily use. The blades are finely forged from steel, with handles crafted from luxurious tortoiseshell (or horn) and accented with silver, showcasing th...

Knife, fork, and pen knife

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