William Needham ‘Cobble-carved’ Pocket Fruit Knife, 1888

Description

William Needham was a prolific silver pocket fruit knife maker with a workshop at 13 Jessop Street, Sheffield. This is a very stylish example of his craftsmanship. It has a gentle sleeveboard shaped body and measures 3 inches closed. The knife is made with brass liners, ‘cobble-carved’ mother-of-pearl scales, an inlaid silver cartouche engraved with the orginal owner’s name “Florrie”, and silvered pinched bolsters. The solid silver spearpoint blade has four hallmarks: Birmingham anchor, lion passant, date letter “o” for 1888 and the maker’s mark “WN”. This makes the knife something of an enigma as William Needham did not register a maker’s mark with the Birmingham Assay Office, and yet it is clearly his mark! It is a very fine knife and is in excellent condition.