Serving Knife (Kredenzmesser)
Artistattributed to
Melchior Diefstetter
(Munich, Germany, recorded 1497 – not later than 1556)
Date1535–1540
Mediumsteel, gilt brass, bone, hardwood inlay
Dimensions11 × 46 cm (4 5/16 × 18 1/8 in.), 1 lb, 13.5 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.437
DescriptionUsual form, irregularly "I"-shaped gilt brass or bronze handle of 8 cast pieces (seam lines are visible at the top and bottom of each inlay segment). "Pommel" squarish, lobed form, with spiralled terminals. Integral, short, necked plinth. Front & reverse faces filled with 4 horn-and-hardwood inlays. Two styles of pattern, 1 of 3 colors in chevron pattern, the other of 2 colors checkered. Both faces of pommel & grip have cut rosettes of 5 or 6 points, formed in openwork, petalled design. This should be compared to those rosettes found on Hans Sumersperger's work of c. 1500 at Vienna. Pommel & grip incised with swirling tendril motives. Basal part of grip is of 2 halves formed as inverted truncated "T" of lenticular section. This is decoratively divided transversely as three mouldings, each differently incised. The uppermost is a row of pearl-like incisions, bordered with raised mouldings. Below this is an obliquely-cut alternating design of punched circles, and lines with crescents. The finial design below is a single sunken border, circularly pierced, with a pendant acanthus motif.
Formerly blued or blackened steel blade of slight lenticular section flaring to broad, rounded tip. Blade tang is open in center; blade is stabilized in the grip by projections visible as rectangular steel strips on each side of the grip.
ProvenanceFrank G. Macomber, Boston MA (his #460) Purchased by JWH on Dec 10-12, 1936 from Macomber sale, Lot #209, from the American Art Association, Anderson Galleries, New York, N.Y. Price paid for lot. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
about 1600–1650
1800s
