Barrel Maker's ( Cooper's ) [Presentation?] Knife 1702 A.D.

Barrel maker's knife, the steel blade stamped with two unidentified maker's marks and dated '1702', etched with designs and verses including a depiction of men breaking open a barrel of beer. The cast gilt brass handle is in the form of a lion.

Place of Origin

Germany (made)

Date

1702 (dated)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Stamped and etched steel with cast gilt brass

Marks and inscriptions

'1702'
Two maker's marks

Dimensions

Length: 23.7 cm overall, Width: 7.7 cm blade, Depth: 3.4 cm handle

Descriptive line

Barrel-maker's knife, steel blade etched with verses and designs including an image of men opening a barrel of beer, the lion-shaped handle of cast gilt brass, made in Germany, dated 1702

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Mills, Rosie, "Images in Steel: The Art and Craft of Etched Decoration", The Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Vol. 19, June 2011, pp. 82-91, ill. p. 88

Exhibition History

Beautifully Bitten: Acid-etched Metal in Europe 1500-1750 (Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery (room 116) 04/07/2011-04/07/2011)

Labels and date

COOPER'S KNIFE, steel and brass, Germany; dated 1702

Handle of cast gilt brass. Two unidentified stamped maker's marks on the blade. Etched with designs and verses. This side shows men breaking open a barrel of beer.

Museum No. 126-1873 [07/1994]

Materials

Steel; Brass (alloy)

Techniques

Gilding; Casting; Etching (corroding); Stamping (marking)

Subjects depicted

Lions (animals)

Source: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O324524/barrel-makers-knife-unknown/