Who created "Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle"?

Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle was created by François Nicoud, French, active Paris ca. 1875-1890 in ca. 1890.

When was "Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1890.

Is "Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle" in the public domain?

Yes, Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle

François Nicoud, French, active Paris ca. 1875-1890

ca. 1890

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

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 ...

Dessert Knife with Mother-of-Pearl Handle

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