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ID #SA1237633
FOR SALE
£175
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Antique Early Metalware 19thc Fruitwood Fisherman's Penknife in the Form of a Fish. French C1860-80.
For sale by Mark Seabrook Antiques
for sale €205     $222
£175
Mark Seabrook Antiques

Mark Seabrook Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Apr 2020
Browse dealers 42 items
  • About Us
    Specialising in 17/18thc oak & country furniture, antique treen, early metalware & english pottery.
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Id #SA1237633
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Antique Early Metalware 19thc Fruitwood Fisherman's Penknife in the Form of a Fish. French C1860-80.

19th century
Description

A very nice example of a mid 19thc Fisherman's knife in the form of a fish....probably used for filleting the fish that was caught....it is made of fruitwood (applewood) and nicely decorated with "scales", fishtail and incised triple ring decoration...the blade is in good condition....excellent colour and patina.

French. C1860-80.

Physical Dimensions
Height
1.9cm (0.75")
Width
11.4cm (4.49")
Depth
1.9cm (0.75")
Declaration

Mark Seabrook Antiques has dated this Antique Fruitwood Penknife to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1237633
Dealers Internal Reference
MS 8604
Dealers Notes

Payment can be made by Bank Transfer , all you will need are my Bank Details, which I will send you or off line by Credit / Debit card ,..... e-mail or telephone your card details (long card number, expiry date and three security digits on the reverse of the card) through to me and I will do the rest .

Please quote the Internal Reference Number to identify the item you are enquiring about....thank you.

Description
A very nice example of a mid 19thc Fisherman's knife in the form of a fish....probably used for filleting the fish that was caught....
“
it is made of fruitwood (applewood) and nicely decorated with "scales", fishtail and incised triple ring decoration.
Mark Seabrook Antiques

..the blade is in good condition....excellent colour and patina.

French. C1860-80.

Height
1.9cm (0.75")
Width
11.4cm (4.49")
Depth
1.9cm (0.75")
Date of Manufacture

Mark Seabrook Antiques has dated this Antique Fruitwood Penknife to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1237633
Dealers Internal Ref
MS 8604
Mark Seabrook Antiques
Mark Seabrook Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Apr 2020

Specialising in 17/18thc oak & country furniture, antique treen, early metalware & english pottery.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Mark Seabrook Antiques Profile Page

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A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade.
1 / 4
Archive I A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade.

Antique Early Metalware 19thc Fruitwood Fisherman's Penknife in the Form of a Fish. French C1860-80.

Archive II A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade. View II
Archive III A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade. View III
Archive IV A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Mark Seabrook Antiques

Mark Seabrook Antiques
Telephone 07770 721931
Location
Bedfordshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/wwwmarkseabrookcom
Verified Since Apr 2020
Items For Sale 42
Items Sold 1,042
Mark Seabrook Antiques
Mark Seabrook Antiques
Verified Since Apr 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/wwwmarkseabrookcom
Verified
Apr 2020
For Sale
42
Sold
1,042
A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade.
Antique Early Metalware 19thc Fruitwood Fisherman's Penknife In The Form Of A Fish. French C1860-80.
Ref: SA1237633
A nineteenth-century French folding penknife carved from fruitwood in the shape of a fish with a brass collar and steel blade.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectPocket Knives
  • Period19th century
  • Style19th Century French
  • MaterialFruitwood, Brass, Steel
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsPiscine shape, Carved line details, Brass collar
  • SizeH 1.9 cm (1 in) x W 11.4 cm (4 in) x D 1.9 cm (1 in)

This nineteenth-century French folding penknife takes the form of a fish, originating from the period between 1860 and 1880. The body comprises warm brown fruitwood with a notable patina, displaying carved incised triple ring decoration, scale-like details near the brass collar, and a bifurcated fishtail handle. A steel blade sits folded within the wooden casing, accompanied by a bright metallic mouth section at the front. The piece measures 1.9 cm high, 11.4 cm wide, and 1.9 cm deep. Today, collectors and enthusiasts display items of this type within a gentleman's library or study environment. It fits comfortably on an office desk as a decorative cabinet specimen or paperweight, offering a conversation piece that reflects nineteenth-century craftsmanship and utilitarian design. The compact format permits placement inside display cabinets alongside other small antique metalware and treen.

FAQs

Popularised during the nineteenth century, novelty penknives were compact folding pocket knives crafted into whimsical or figurative shapes such as fish, footwear, or animals. Originating primarily in France and Britain, these items served both practical daily purposes and as collectible desk accessories.

Nineteenth-century French pocket knives frequently combined dense hardwoods such as fruitwood or boxwood with brass ferrules, iron liners, and high-carbon steel folding blades.

Authentic nineteenth-century pieces display natural age patina, hand-carved decorative detailing, non-uniform steel blades showing historical wear or oxidisation, and hand-fitted brass or iron components.

Small antique tools and novelty objects are often displayed inside glass cloches, arranged within shadow boxes, or styled atop stacked books on a gentlemans library desk or side table.

Keep the wood lightly conditioned with microcrystalline wax to prevent drying, ensure the steel blade remains clean and lightly oiled to resist rust, and store in a dry, temperature-controlled environment.
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