Case for Knife and Fork (Part of Traveling Cutlery Set)
ca. 1700
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
1985-103-100-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 18th-century travel with this elegant *Case for Knife and Fork*, part of a complete traveling cutlery set dating to around 1700. Crafted as a practical yet sophisticated accessory, it housed personal knives and forks for discerning individuals on the move—long before standardized tableware was commonplace. Displayed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum from The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection (gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg), this piece highlights the artistry of everyday functional objects from the early colonial era. In an age of bumpy coach journeys and exte...
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...