Pocket fruit knife by Henry Williamson Ltd of Birmingham, 1924

Description

Henry Williamson was born in 1839 and established a business dealing in jet jewellery in 1865. Jet, a black fossilised wood, gained national popularity during Queen Victoria’s mourning period. When the fashion for jet declined during the 1880s, Henry Williamson diversified into watch and clock manufacturing. The firm’s product range included a variety of timepieces such as grandfather clocks, bracket clocks, lantern clocks, turret clocks, jeweller’s drum clocks, and chime clocks. They were also manufacturing silversmiths and from premises in Spencer Street, Birmingham produced pocket fruit knives, butter knives, hip flasks and knife rests. The company failed to survive the financial crash of 1929 and was liquidated by 1931. 

This pocket fruit knife by Henry Williamson & Company was made in 1924. It is a bolsterless (shadow) knife and measures 2 3/8 inches closed. It has brass liners, rounded iridescent mother-of-pearl scales and an inlaid cartouche. The blade has four hallmarks from the Sheffield Assay Office: Sheffield crown, lion passant, date letter “g” for 1924 and the maker’s mark “HWLtd”. The knife is in mint condition.