Butter Knife | Adams, George W. - Explore The Collections - V&A

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Become a Member +1On display

• V&A South Kensington

• British Galleries, Room 125b

Butter knife1849-1850 (made)

Artist/Maker	Adams, George W. (manufacturer)
Place of origin	London (made)

Object TypeThe first examples of the butter knife date from the late 18th century. In the Victorian period the butter knife was used to serve butter, rather than to spread it.Design & DesigningMost butter knives, like this one,are designed with a wide, scimitar-shaped blade with a blunt edge. Many had a stained green ivory or mother-of-pearl handle, but this example is made in the Princess Number 2 pattern to match a cutlery service. In 1899 one manufacturer, James Deakin & Sons Ltd of Sheffield, offered a 108-piece canteen that included one butter knife. At a later date the shape of the blade was copied and used for fish knives and forks. Butter knives became smaller in the late 19th century, as individual butter dishes encouraged the use of a butter knife as part of the place setting.ManufacturerThis butter knife was made by Chawner & Co., who were the most important firm of silver spoon and fork manufacturers in Victorian London, supplying the top end of the retailing trade as well as smaller firms throughout the country. Under the name of the proprietor, George Adams, the business exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the International Exhibition of 1862.

Object details

Category	Tableware & Cutlery
Object type	Butter knife
Materials and techniques	Cast silver
Brief description	Butter Knife
Dimensions	Height: 1.4cm Width: 3cm Length: 19.5cm Dimensions checked: Measured; 14/12/1998 by JC
Marks and inscriptions	Hallmarked for 1849-1850
Gallery label	(27/03/2003)British Galleries:The wide blade and curved blunt edge traditional for butter knives developed in the 18th century. In the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. catalogue of 1896, silver butter knives were available in a variety of different flatware patterns to match other table cutlery. They cost from 10s to 14s (50p to 70p).
Object history	Manufactured in London by George W. Adams for Chawner & Co.
Summary	Object TypeThe first examples of the butter knife date from the late 18th century. In the Victorian period the butter knife was used to serve butter, rather than to spread it.Design & DesigningMost butter knives, like this one,are designed with a wide, scimitar-shaped blade with a blunt edge. Many had a stained green ivory or mother-of-pearl handle, but this example is made in the Princess Number 2 pattern to match a cutlery service. In 1899 one manufacturer, James Deakin & Sons Ltd of Sheffield, offered a 108-piece canteen that included one butter knife. At a later date the shape of the blade was copied and used for fish knives and forks. Butter knives became smaller in the late 19th century, as individual butter dishes encouraged the use of a butter knife as part of the place setting.ManufacturerThis butter knife was made by Chawner & Co., who were the most important firm of silver spoon and fork manufacturers in Victorian London, supplying the top end of the retailing trade as well as smaller firms throughout the country. Under the name of the proprietor, George Adams, the business exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the International Exhibition of 1862.
Collection	Metalwork Collection
Accession number	M.8A-1967

About this object record

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Record created	March 27, 2003
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78647/butter-knife-adams-george-w/

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