Pocket fruit knife by Thomas Marples of Sheffield, 1877

Description

Thomas Marples was born in Sheffield in 1832. He operated from 41 Arundel Street and became a specialist pocket fruit knife maker. With a small team he produced fine examples for around fifty years. His knives are keenly collected. This sleeveboard shaped example is 3 1/2 inches closed and is made with brass liners, intricately  carved mother-of-pearl scales, pinched silver bolsters and an inlaid silver cartouche engraved with the name “Helen”. The solid silver spearpoint blade has five crisp hallmarks: the Sheffield crown, lion passant, date letter ‘’K” for 1877, the Queen Victoria head duty mark and the maker’s mark ‘TM’. This beautiful silver fruit knife is in very good condition even though the blade does not fully close.