Stunning Edwardian Solid Silver Fruit Pen Knife

1900 - 1920

Sold by William Rand Antiques

Description

Fine Edwardian solid silver fruit pen knife hallmarked Sheffield 1909 by J Nowill & Sons. The fruit blade is hallmarked silver the other two original blades are steel. The case and silver blade is beautifully engraved and has a central vacant cartouche. In excellent condition.

Courtesy of the Sheffield Museum: Joseph Nowill & Sons. The family company was first based in Meadow Street, but later moved to Scotland Street around 1840. It was in 1842 that the first of John Nowill’s sons, William, joined the business after finishing his apprenticeship. His maker’s marks of ‘D*’ and ‘KROSSKEYS’ remain the marks of the company to this day. At the Great Exhibition in 1851 the company won a Prize Medal for their selection knives for ‘the Levant trade’. The Levant is an historical term for the near East, covering modern day countries such as Syria, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. The company retained strong trade links with this area, having agents in Turkey, Egypt and Greece. In 1851 there were fifty men and boys working for John Nowill & Son, however, steady expansion meant that by 1881 they employed one hundred men, ten boys and fifteen women. In 1881 they also registered their first silver mark, which showed they were moving into making valuable silver and electro plate items. They registered a second silver mark in 1901. Despite surviving the difficult interwar years, the company was sold to F.E. & J.R. Hopkinson in 1947, and later acquired by J. Adams Ltd.

Physical Dimensions

Height

1cm (0.39")

Width

8cm (3.15")

Depth

1.2cm (0.47")

Declaration

William Rand Antiques has dated this piece to the Edwardian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA695292

Dealers Notes

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, FREE DELIVERY TO MAINLAND UK & ISLE OF MAN

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Description

Courtesy of the Sheffield Museum: Joseph Nowill & Sons. The family company was first based in Meadow Street, but later moved to Scotland Street around 1840.

“

It was in 1842 that the first of John Nowill’s sons, William, joined the business after finishing his apprenticeship.

William Rand Antiques

His maker’s marks of ‘D*’ and ‘KROSSKEYS’ remain the marks of the company to this day. At the Great Exhibition in 1851 the company won a Prize Medal for their selection knives for ‘the Levant trade’. The Levant is an historical term for the near East, covering modern day countries such as Syria, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. The company retained strong trade links with this area, having agents in Turkey, Egypt and Greece. In 1851 there were fifty men and boys working for John Nowill & Son, however, steady expansion meant that by 1881 they employed one hundred men, ten boys and fifteen women. In 1881 they also registered their first silver mark, which showed they were moving into making valuable silver and electro plate items. They registered a second silver mark in 1901. Despite surviving the difficult interwar years, the company was sold to F.E. & J.R. Hopkinson in 1947, and later acquired by J. Adams Ltd.