An Extremely Rare And Exceptional Pair Of Flint-tipped Cutlery (knife And Fork)

An extremely rare and exceptional pair of flint-tipped cutlery (knife and fork) made of finely handcrafted iron.

Place of Manufacture: Italy, Brescia (Valtrompia)

Period: Mid-18th Century (18th Century)

Description and Historical Context

In the 18th century, combination weapons (combination weapons) represented the intersection of high-precision micromechanics and the ostentatious display of aristocratic luxury; they were intended for cabinets of curiosities (Wunderkammer) or the hunting banquets of the European nobility.

This extraordinary set, complete and preserved in exceptional condition, consists of a two-pronged fork and a knife with a single-edged blade and straight spine, bearing the master maker’s hallmark clearly stamped on the bolster.

The iron handle of each piece incorporates a genuine Brescian-style flintlock mechanism, with a muzzle-loading barrel carved directly into the handle itself. To allow for easy use at the table without hindering the grip, the Brescian armorsmiths equipped the two pieces with a retractable/articulated (pin-type) trigger, which is activated only when the hammer is cocked.

At the time, Brescia and the Valtrompia region were Europe’s preeminent center for ironworking in the production of weapons and artistic ironwork; this attribution is confirmed by the slender silhouette of the flints, the craftsmanship of the external springs, and the technical characteristics typical of the 18th-century Brescian school.

Market and Museum References

• Auction Market: A specimen comparable in type and quality was sold at the prestigious Hermann Historica München auction house (65th Auction, Lot 1323) with an estimate/hammer price of €22,000.
• Museum Comparisons: Similar examples of Brescian manufacture are housed at the “Luigi Marzoli” Arms Museum in Brescia, the Royal Armory in Turin, the Wallace Collection in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Condition

Exceptional condition. The piece as a whole features a magnificent “grixio” (original dark period patina) that is perfectly stabilized. The mechanisms of the flints (screws, springs, hammers) are intact. The object has undergone only conservative cleaning and protection with professional microcrystalline wax (no invasive interventions).

???? TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Armed cutlery / Combined travel or banquet weapons
• Material: Wrought iron, carved and chiseled
• Fork Length: 25.5 cm
• Knife Length: 24 cm
• Mechanism: Flintlock with retractable trigger
• Markings: Manufacturer’s hallmark on the knife blade
• Origin: Brescia, Italy