Viners of Sheffield | Six Fruit Knives | Mother-of-Pearl Handles & Silver Cuffs | Cased | 1936 or Later

Viners of Sheffield | Six Fruit Knives | Mother-of-Pearl Handles & Silver Cuffs | Cased | 1936 or Later

A fruit knife set in its original case is one of those objects that arrives at the table already carrying the weight of every occasion it was kept for.

Viners traces its origins to 1908 in Sheffield and received a Royal Warrant as Cutlers and Silversmiths to King George V in 1930. During the twentieth century it developed into one of England’s major cutlery manufacturers. Sheffield’s cutlery industry brought together specialist trades including blade making, handle fitting, polishing and casing. Fruit knives with mother-of-pearl handles and silver fittings were made for use at the dessert course and were often presented in fitted cases.

Each knife features a stainless steel blade with a finely serrated edge, a silver cuff marked as sterling (not fully hallmarked), and a full mother-of-pearl handle with the characteristic iridescence and natural figuring of the material. The cuffs carry delicate foliate or scrollwork decoration in low relief. The blades are etched with the Viners of Sheffield name. The set is presented in its original fitted case, with a black leatherette exterior and brass clasp, lined in cream satin with a blue satin label in the lid reading “By Appointment to the Late King George V, Cutlers & Silversmiths, Viners Ltd, Viners of Sheffield England”. The reference to the late King dates the set to after George V’s death in January 1936.

All six knives are present. The blades are in mint, unused condition. The mother-of-pearl handles are intact with no chips or losses. The case interior is fully preserved with no tears, while the exterior shows age-consistent wear.

Key Details

•  Maker: Viners of Sheffield, England
•  Lid label: “By Appointment to the Late King George V” — Viners Ltd, Cutlers & Silversmiths
•  Blades: Stainless steel, finely serrated, etched with maker’s name
•  Cuffs: Marked sterling silver; no full hallmarks
•  Handles: Mother-of-pearl
•  Quantity: Six knives, complete
•  Case: Original fitted leatherette case with cream satin lining and brass clasp
•  Period: 1936 or later, dated by the lid label
•  Condition: Mint — all six knives present; blades unused; handles intact; case interior fully preserved; exterior with age-consistent wear

Collector Appeal

All six knives are still in their original fitted case, with the mother-of-pearl handles intact and the blades unused.

Sheffield made things to be used, but this set was kept instead — which is its own testimony to the quality and appeal of the craftsmanship.