Featured Silver folks,what am I for?

Discussion in 'Silver' started by johnnycb09, Apr 3, 2019.

  1. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    Hi all. Picked these up recently,no markings that I can find,but dirt cheap and oh so pretty. The knife is 12 inches long,the fork 9,and I have no idea of their purpose. I think they are Aesthetic movement but I could be wrong. They are rather light,so I dont think they are filled. Any input is always appreciated.
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  2. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Maybe for cheese.
     
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  3. ALittleBit

    ALittleBit ALittleBit

    The knife may be for butter. The two are not a pair, ie. meant to be used together. The fork may be for the fish course. I think :)
     
  4. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    The knife is almost lethal looking ! I thought maybe cake knife? Does anyone else think 1870s ?
     
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  5. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    Serving fish knife and fork ... Joy. That's what I think anyway. :)
     
  6. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    And I think you would be correct.

    Fish knife and fork.
    Very nice.
     
  7. ALittleBit

    ALittleBit ALittleBit

    Yep, I stand corrected. Fish knife and fork set. One source I found referred to the knife as a carver !! Has anyone ever carved a fish?
     
  8. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    There's a video out there in which Martha Stewart shows you how to use a fish knife. A lost art.
     
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  9. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

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  10. Shwikman

    Shwikman Well-Known Member

    These days when we eat fish it’s often single servings that are cooked individually. It just not as customary(where I am)to slap a whole fish down on the table but if you did I suppose it would need to get “carved?
     
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  11. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    More like filleted. If you get the chance, watch Martha show how it's done.
     
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  12. Shwikman

    Shwikman Well-Known Member

    She’s good.
     
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  13. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    in Europe: millions around - on every fleamarket, auctionhouses don't even take them when they're gilded.
    most look like new because they were never used. in fashion as one of the most useless gifts ever till the 1930s.
    agree on aesteticism influence - my guess ist 1900 - 1920.
    from the size it's a serving set for Charlotte, Mathilda or Ruthven, to prepare fish for mylady.
    probably one of the reasons why the English switched over to fish'n'chips.
     
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  14. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    One of the things that stuck with me from the movie Gosford Park was the explanation for why there was one fork with the pieces to the right of the plate: because they eat the fish with two. No mention of special knives.
     
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  15. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    I agree with Fid.

    I come across many sets, totally useless wedding and engagements gifts that never get used.
     
  16. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    We had them in the cutlery drawer when I was growing up, I don't remember them ever being used though. My mother cooked kippers in the oven and they stunk up the whole house, also flounder, Dover sole, halibut and others ... I still love fish and other seafood. ... Joy.
     
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  17. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    seems to be an American film then. classical European setting always has these special knives. and may I add - I hated it as a child. but then - that was Knigge.
     
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  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    They were upper class, posh. Upper class people didn't use fish knives, it was more of a middle class (bourgeois) thing.
    The middle classes are responsible for far more inventions, also fairly useless ones, than the upper classes. Social history is complicated.:rolleyes:
     
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  19. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the replies everyone. As my house is filled with useless pretty things theyll be right at home!
     
  20. Chandler In Las Vegas

    Chandler In Las Vegas Active Member

    Gossford Park two fork fish course placement.JPG
    They appear to not be place pieces, pieces that are meant for individual diners for individual courses. Usually the engraving on old pieces gives rise to their use but I cannot find any clue in them.

    It is interesting that the English usually have three sizes of things and use them accordingly. Big knife, medium knife and small knife. Big fork, medium fork small fork. You can see from the Gossford Park capture the interesting two fork method for the fish course. It took the rise of the merchant class to appropriate the manners of the upper classes and THEY likes the specificity of sterling pieces.

    It is said that Queen Victoria HATED the parvenu nature of the Fish Knife and SHE used a fork with a BREAD PUSHER. Personally, every grand diner I serve has a fish course just so I may lay out my fish knives and forks. I got them and I use them. Would it be OK here if i posted a picture of my last dinner setting for clarity?
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2019
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