Carving set (4) - Sterling Silver Mounts

A fine and complete late Victorian English carving set consisting of three pieces: a large carving knife, a two-tined carving fork and a sharpening steel. The pieces feature attractive natural stag horn (antler) handles mounted with sterling silver caps and ferrules.

The silver mounts are fully hallmarked:

Sheffield crown (town mark)
Lion passant (.925 sterling silver)
Date letter O (1881) or Q (1883)
Maker’s mark JH for John Harrison & Co, Norfolk Works, Scotland Street, Sheffield
British Registered Design lozenge mark (Victorian diamond registration mark) on one of the mounts.

Please see the final 4 photos. Although these are not 100% clear, the combination of them firmly date the set to 1881 or 1883.

Each piece has a solid stag horn handle with natural colour variation and grain, fitted with cast and chased sterling silver terminals at both ends. The blades, tines and steel are of high-quality traditional Sheffield steel.

Carving knife: length 39.5 cm, weight 208 g
Carving fork: length 30 cm, weight 184 g
Sharpening steel: length 36.5 cm, weight 237 g

The set is housed in its original fitted presentation case with burgundy leatherette exterior and gilt tooling. The interior has a ruched pink silk lid lining and purple velvet base with shaped recesses for the three pieces. Case dimensions: approximately 47 × 13 × 4 cm.

Total weight including case: 1,140 g.

Good antique condition consistent with age and light use. The stag horn handles are sound and firmly fixed, showing attractive natural patina. The silver mounts retain good definition with light wear and residual tarnish in places. The steel blades and tines have developed an even dark patina typical of traditional carbon steel and have not been over-polished or restored. The original case shows expected external wear, scuffing and minor losses to the edges; the interior lining remains largely intact with some colour variation and light staining to the velvet. All three pieces fit correctly in their recesses. No major damage, repairs or missing elements.

John Harrison & Co of Norfolk Works, Scotland Street, was one of Sheffield’s pioneering electroplate manufacturers (the first local firm to take an Elkington licence in 1843). Although best known for electroplate, German silver and Britannia metal hollow-ware, the company also produced silver-mounted cutlery and tableware, including dessert knives, fish carvers and flatware. This set, dated 1881 or 1883 and carrying a Registered Design mark on the silver mounts, is a good example of their higher-quality output from the final years of the Victorian period.

A practical yet decorative collector’s piece that can still be used for formal service or displayed as a fine example of late-Victorian Sheffield craftsmanship.

Secure and prompt dispatch.