Antique Butter Knife - Germany 1880
04
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€ 1
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Selected by Dési van Rhee
Over 20 years' experience in antiques with a background in art history.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Antique vermeil silver-handled butter knife with a steel blade, 20.5 cm long and weighing 28.5 g, dating to circa 1880–1910 and likely from Hanau, Germany, unmarked and in very good condition with minor gilding wear.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Elegant antique serving or butter knife with a richly decorated vermeil silver handle and a fine, flexible steel blade.
The handle is of solid, substantial construction — not the usual thin, hollow type — and features deep Rococo-Revival ornamentation with finely hand-engraved floral and scroll motifs.
Traces of the original gilding remain in the recesses, creating a warm contrast with the soft, natural patina.
The slender, resilient blade with delicate etched floral motifs suggests use as a fine serving or butter knife, intended for soft foods such as pâtés, creams, or cheeses.
Unmarked, which is characteristic of the Hanau silver workshops active around 1880–1910, known for their luxurious hand-made silverware often lacking official assay marks.
Origin: Germany, probably Hanau
Date: circa 1880–1910
Material: silver handle (vermeil), steel blade
Length: 20.5 cm
Weight: 28.5 g
Condition: very good; minor wear to gilding, natural patina; structurally sound
Marks: none (typical for Hanau work)
Remarks:
A finely crafted, hand-finished piece representing the high quality of late-19th-century German silverwork.
A collector’s item of decorative and historical value.
Elegant antique serving or butter knife with a richly decorated vermeil silver handle and a fine, flexible steel blade.
The handle is of solid, substantial construction — not the usual thin, hollow type — and features deep Rococo-Revival ornamentation with finely hand-engraved floral and scroll motifs.
Traces of the original gilding remain in the recesses, creating a warm contrast with the soft, natural patina.
The slender, resilient blade with delicate etched floral motifs suggests use as a fine serving or butter knife, intended for soft foods such as pâtés, creams, or cheeses.
Unmarked, which is characteristic of the Hanau silver workshops active around 1880–1910, known for their luxurious hand-made silverware often lacking official assay marks.
Origin: Germany, probably Hanau
Date: circa 1880–1910
Material: silver handle (vermeil), steel blade
Length: 20.5 cm
Weight: 28.5 g
Condition: very good; minor wear to gilding, natural patina; structurally sound
Marks: none (typical for Hanau work)
Remarks:
A finely crafted, hand-finished piece representing the high quality of late-19th-century German silverwork.
A collector’s item of decorative and historical value.
Details
Distillery/brand
Antique Butter Knife
Country of production
Europe
Volume on label
Germany 1880
Alcohol %
800 silver
