What is a sterling silver letter knife?

A sterling silver letter knife is a hand-held desk implement featuring a silver handle and a sharp or flat blade used for opening mail. These pieces were standard desk furniture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, combining utility with decorative metalwork.

How do I date a silver letter opener?

You date a silver letter opener by examining the hallmarks stamped into the metal, which typically include a date letter and assay office symbol. Stylistic cues such as Art Deco enamel work or Victorian tortoiseshell mounts also point to specific periods of manufacture.

Were letter knives used for books?

Some larger silver and tortoiseshell or mother-of-pearl examples functioned as page turners for un-cut paper pages in books and journals. These combined tools served both correspondence and reading tasks on the library desk.

What materials are combined with silver?

Makers combined sterling silver with steel for functional blades, alongside organic materials like tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. Enamel, citrine gemstones, and cast figural animal handles in the form of ducks or greyhounds also appear.