Table knife and fork

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, this pair of 19th-century table knife and fork exemplifies everyday metalwork from the Balkans. Crafted from steel blades and bone handles the knife measures 6 5/8 inches (16.8 cm) long, while the fork is slightly shorter at 6 1/8 inches (15.6 cm). Donated in 1891 by R. Stuyvesant, these unassuming utensils highlight the practical artistry of anonymous Serbian craftsmen during a transformative era. In 19th-century Serbia, emerging from Ottoman rule toward independence in 1878, such steel and bone im...