Charles William Fletcher pocket fruit knife, 1910

Description

Although he registered his silver mark with the Sheffield Assay Office in 1894, Charles William Fletcher did not formally set up business as a silver fruit knife maker until 1899.

The firm was based at Sterling Works, Bramble Lane and it not only flourished, the firm outlasted most other silver pocket fruit knife makers being finally sold in 2002.

This organically shaped example of a Charles William Fletcher pocket fruit knife measures 3 1/4 inches closed and is made with brass liners, plain silvered bolsters and beautifully carved iridescent mother-of-pearl scales. The face scale features a finely carved bunch of grapes, vine leaves, a pineapple and a sprig of lily-of-the-valley inside a fluted border.

The rear scale is carved with a large sprig of lily-of-the-valley indicating the knife may have been given as a gift as the lily-of-the valley motif was regarded as a token of friendship in late Victorian and Edwardian times.

The silver spearpoint blade has four hallmarks: the Sheffield crown, lion passant, date letter ‘s’ for 1910 and the maker’s mark ‘CWF’.

This Charles William Fletcher pocket fruit knife is in excellent condition and comes with its original kidskin clip-top purse.