George Unite pocket fruit knife, 1923

George Unite was born in 1798. He became a renowned silversmith whose firm, George Unite & Sons, was a significant name in British silver manufacturing. George Unite began his career as an apprentice to Joseph Willmore in 1810, a respected Birmingham silversmith. He established his own workshop in partnership with James Hilliard in 1825, specialising in small silver items such as snuff boxes, card cases, vinaigrettes, and pocket fruit knives. It is not recorded how long the partnership lasted, but prior to 1845 George Unite was trading under his own name. By this time his firm had gained a strong reputation for its finely crafted silverware. As the business expanded, the firm became George Unite & Sons, when his son, George Richard Unite, joined the business. George Unite junior died in 1896. In 1897 the remaining family partners, Edward Willoughby Unite and William Oliver Unite dissolved George Unite & Sons, but the George Unite name and silver mark continued well into the 20th century. This gentle teardrop shaped example of a George Unite knife is 3 inches closed and has brass liners, rounded iridescent mother-of-pearl scales, silver bolsters and an inlaid silver cartouche. The solid silver blade has four hallmarks: the Birmingham anchor, lion passant, date letter “y” for 1923, and the maker’s mark “GU”. The blade still has a ‘snap’ — quite a rarity for silver-bladed knives. The knife is in mint condition.