| Maker(s): | Settle, Thomas and Co. (1785-1815)
| | Culture: | English
| | Title: | forks, knives, and cutlery box
| | Date Made: | 1785-1790
| | Type: | Food Service
| | Materials: | silver, pitch, base metal: steel; wood, paper, base metal: brass; textile: red wool baize
| | Place Made: | United Kingdom; England; Sheffield
| | Measurements: | box: 12 1/4 x 7 1/8 x 4 3/4 in.; 31.115 x 18.0975 x 12.065 cm
| | Accession Number: | HD 2002.48
| | Credit Line: | Gift of the Nathan Hayward Family
| | Museum Collection: | Historic Deerfield
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Description:
Set of twelve silver forks and twelve knives in the original box, which was owned by the Dwight Family of Springfield. The Dwights were part of a group of leading magistrates, merchants, ministers, doctors, and military officers, referred to as the "Mansion People." The seven interrelated families that comprised this group not only distinguished themselves by their economic prosperity, and also by their aloofness and concern with appearances. The ownership of 12 matching silver knives and forks would have created an elaborate and extensive dining display. The history of ownership descended through Elizabeth Buckminster Dwight (1801-1855), the daughter of Colonel Thomas Dwight (1758-1819) and Hannah Worthington Dwight (1761-1833) of Springfield, who married Charles Howard (1794-1875), the son of Rev. Bezaliel (1753-1837) and his second wife Prudence Williams Howard of Springfield; their daughter, Sarah Bancroft Howard (1838-1922), married James W. Hayward (d.1923) in 1866; and their son, Nathan Hayward (1872-1944), was the father of the donor, Esther Lloyd Hayward Rivinus. The handles are stamped silver and pitch-filled; the forks have three steel tines and the knives have scimitar-shaped steel blades. The knife blades are marked 'SET" with a Maltese cross, the knife and fork hafts are stamped "Co." on each. The mark refers to Thomas Settle and Company listed in the "A Directory of Sheffield" of 1787 as a resident of Brinsworth's Orchard and a maker of "Table Knives, Silver and Plated." The knife box is made of wood covered in a black paper; the paper has been pocked to simulate the appearance of sharkskin or shagreen, the box lid is hinged and has a lock mechanism on the front, the interior of the box is lined in red baize with silver threads between the slots for the forks and knives. A related knife box and cutlery is owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society and has a history of ownership by Theodore Atkinson (1697-1779) and probably is the "one Case of small silver handled knives and forks" bequeathed by Mrs. Susannah Atkinson to her nephew William K. Atkinson.
Label Text:
This set of cutlery was owned in the Dwight family of Springfield, Massachusetts. The Dwights were part of a group of leading magistrates, merchants, ministers, doctors, and military officers, referred to as the "Mansion People" or "River Gods." The seven interrelated families that comprised this group not only distinguished themselves by their economic prosperity, but also by their aloofness and concern with appearances. In rural New England, these matching silver handled knives and forks would have created an elaborate and impressive display on their dining table. The maker Thomas Settle and Co. was listed in 1787 Sheffield Directory as maker of “Table Knives, Silver and Plated.” The knife box itself made of wood covered in black paper pebbled in texture simulating the appearance of sharkskin or shagreen. Given that the Dwights’ refined sensibilities were not matched by unlimited wealth, they opted for the less expensive faux shagreen (sharkskin) case created out of pressed paper.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2002.48 |
