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KNIFE
Unique ID: SWYOR-92474B
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A post medieval copper alloy socketed handle of a whittle tang knife decorated in the style of "Stuart" enamels and dating from AD 1640 - 1680. The knife handle is made in two pieces which are soldered together, leaving a hollow cavity for the iron knife tang, of which only corroded traces survive. The handle is of sub-rectangular section and widens at the terminal end where there are four moulded round apertures. The handle then tapers to a knopped terminal. The broad sides are decorated with symmetrical moulded foliate and floriate decoration inlaid with enamel. White enamel and blue enamel survives in some of the cells, forming fleur de lis patterns. The blade, hilt plate and lower handle are all missing. The break is patinated.
Similar knife handles include NMS-454152, NMS-2C8D44 and HAMP-AE36D4 which notes that: "A group of post-medieval knife handles inlaid with enamel can be found on this database and includes refs. BUC-0ABE34, NARC-240716, NMS-454152, NMS-2C8D44, NMS-1942E1, NMS-829EE2. The last two, [and KENT4694], were thought to be Netherlandish, the last two by reference to similar knife handles in the collections of the V&A Museum in London. However, the palette used and the enamelling technique is similar to pieces attributed to a London workshop and described as 'Stuart enamels' (formerly 'Surrey enamels'). For further details on this latter see the V&A website, for example: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O107896/candlestick-one-of-hatch-anthony/."
Referred to by Papin and Soulat (2017, 6; note 31), and comparable to an example illustrated by Papin and Soulat (2017, 6; fig. 10) found at Enkhuizen, North Holland, Netherlands.
Class: handle
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 45.2 mm
Width: 15.5 mm
Thickness: 7.2 mm
Weight: 7.54 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st May 2014 - Tuesday 15th July 2014
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: PAS form number 2231
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: York (Unitary Authority)
District: York (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Askham Richard (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SE5448
Four figure Latitude: 53.92532669
Four figure longitude: -1.17916896
1:25K map: SE5448
1:10K map: SE54NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papin, P., and Soulat, J. | 2017 | A Knife handle of Dutch style of the 17th century from the royal lodgings of the fortress at Loches (Indre-et-Loire) | Fleurance | Laboratoire LandArc | 6 | 10; note 31 |
Similar objects
Find number: NMS-59B351
Object type: KNIFE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Incomplete post-medieval socketed handle of a whittle tang knife or other tool. Of sub-rectangular section the object widens towards the dama…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-2C8D44
Object type: KNIFE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post medieval socketed handle of a whittle tang knife or other tool. Of sub-rectangular section the object widens towards the proximal end ne…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BUC-0ABE34
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A post-medieval copper-alloy socketed handle of a whittle tang knife decorated with inlaid enamel (c. 17th century). The knife handle is made…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
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