Case for Fork and Knife with Antler and Silver Handles
ca. 1730â40
Medium
cutlery
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-134-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 18th-century dining with the *Case for Fork and Knife with Antler and Silver Handles*, a delicate artifact from around 1730–40. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, this piece exemplifies the elegance of period cutlery. Crafted by an unknown artisan, it features a protective case designed to safeguard a fork and knife boasting handles of polished antler—a natural, durable material evoking the wilderness—and gleaming silver, a hallmark of luxury and status. In the colonial era, such cutlery sets were more t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...