Thomas Marples shadow pocket fruit knife and seed picker, 1884

Description

Thomas Marples (1833 – 1912) was a specialist fruit knife maker operating from the 1850s in Arundel Street Sheffield.

He employed five men and two boys and his pocket fruit knives were known for their excellent quality.

This large example has a gentle sleeveboard shaped body and measures 31/2 inches in the closed position. It is a ‘shadow’ knife, meaning it has no bolsters. The knife is a combination fruit knife and seed picker, so there are two inner spring bars.

The knife is made with three brass liners, iridescent rounded mother-of-pearl scales pinned with white metal rivets, a silver inlaid cartouche, twin tooled silver back bar sleeves, a solid silver blade with four hallmarks and a solid silver seed picker with a different set of hallmarks as the seed picker blade was bought in.

The blade was hallmarked at the Sheffield Assay Office and has the Sheffield crown, lion passant, date letter ‘R’ for 1884 and the maker’s mark ‘TM’. The seed picker was assayed at the Birmingham Assay Office and is stamped with the Birmingham anchor, llion passant, the date letter “k” for 1884 and the maker’s mark “TM”.

This substantial pocket fruit knife and seed picker is in very good condition.