Featured Can you please tell me about this ivory knife

Discussion in 'Silver' started by Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023.

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  1. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    When was it made? (J Garside)
    Why is the metal rainbow tarnished? Can it be cleaned? (Also looks like it has some kind of square sticker mark on it).
    Can the appearance of the cracks in the handle be minimised Ie lightened?
    Why are there 2 men? Is one the grandfather? (There are 5 cameos total)
    What is this knife for? Cheese?
    27cm long
    Thanks everyone
    IMG_20231013_074028_compress36.jpg IMG_20231013_074019_compress51.jpg IMG_20231013_074056_compress22.jpg IMG_20231013_074053_compress7.jpg IMG_20231013_074043_compress36.jpg IMG_20231013_074041_compress15.jpg
     

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    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  2. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    What is written here? E5CBDB48-3D99-4043-8C0E-D1DA18F1FA92.jpeg
     
    i need help, Oct 12, 2023
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  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    no size..
    could be a butter knife
    could be famous folks.....or just a family ???
    the cracks are there for good..
    the blade likely not stainless steel.......has stained... polish it....but don't touch the handle when you do..

    what's written on the blade??
     
    komokwa, Oct 12, 2023
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  4. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  5. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    27 cm full length.
    What do I use to polish it?
     
    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  6. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Looks like silver plate to me. Try your favorite silver polish.
     
    Bakersgma, Oct 12, 2023
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  7. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Is there a Superior Silverplate in Australia? There is one in the US but this is not their typlcal marking.
     
    Bakersgma, Oct 12, 2023
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  8. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Bronwen, Oct 12, 2023
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  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    maybe a page splitter?.......or letter opener...... if it's silver plated
     
    komokwa, Oct 12, 2023
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  10. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Looks like bone to me

    I'd call it junk condition
     
    terry5732, Oct 12, 2023
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  11. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-knife-fork-john-garside-1800s-430024006

    This gives a bit of history on John Garside.

    This is a cutlery set from the 1800’s. It is manufactured by John Garside in the Washington Factory in Newark, New Jersey. The knife is stamped “J. Garside Superior Cutlery” there are no markings on the fork. I found documentation on Mr. Garside that George Washington was presented with a set of ivory handled knives with the same markings while at Mount Vernon. At the time they were acquired by Mr. Washington, they were submitted to the Curator of Metals for the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Who after examining wrote, "Dear Mr. Washington, The maker of your knives, J. Garside, is well known in Sheffield; and from the history of the cutlers company, I find that he was an apprentice in 1765. Yours very truly, [signed] John H. Buck curator.” There are 21 table knives with the New Your historical society that were presented to Matthew Calbraith Perry in 1855 that were made by J. Garside. Mr. Garside is mentioned in House of Commons Papers, New York Industrial Exhibition of 1854 as general excellence in the manufacture of table cutlery. I gently cleaned the cutlery, the handles with soap and water and I used a little cleanser on the steel. The steel still has a few more spots of rust and needs a little more cleaning. The knife measures 13 ¼” from the tip of the knife to the bottom of the handle and the fork measures 10 ½” from the tip of the tine to the bottom of the handle. One tine on the fork is slightly shorter. The knife is slightly dull and there are a few cracks in the handle. The handles are “faux” ivory, the collars look to be sterling silver but are not stamped, the blade on the knife and fork metal looks to be carbon steel.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
    i need help, Oct 12, 2023
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  12. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    How do I determine if it's real ivory
     
    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  13. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  14. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    I
    I got this from the USA, not sure about provenance.
     
    Gatoblanconz, Oct 12, 2023
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  15. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    I know @2manybooks posted a thread on this. Can't seem to find it now.
     
    i need help, Oct 12, 2023
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  16. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    It is bone
    Not faux anything
    Ivory does not crack in this manner
    Ivory has growth lines that are very recognizable
     
    terry5732, Oct 12, 2023
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  17. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    If you mean the Schreger lines that give that engine turned look, they do not show in all sections of tusk. Is this what you mean?

    Ivory bust 1B.jpg

    This is the front of the same piece:

    Ivory bust 1A.jpg

    Tusks have a grain running lengthwise & it is not uncommon for ivory pieces to develop cracks that follow those lines.
     
    Bronwen, Oct 12, 2023
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  18. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    No hot needles, please!

    Ivory is dense & heavy for its size. It may show either of the growth lines mentioned above or be quite featureless. This isn't helpful, but somehow, when you have it in hand, you can just tell when it's ivory.

    Yes, some cellulose based polymer. I can't imagine all those little cameos being hand carved, but Celluloid & its kin make great ivory cameos. One of the ladies in this trio is a ringer:

    3ComparedB.png
     
    Bronwen, Oct 12, 2023
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  19. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    say_it_slowly, Oct 12, 2023
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  20. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    This image, of the blade when it was vertical, but now horizontal, and inverted & sharpened, says "J. GARSIDE SUPERIOR CUTLERY"

    IMG_20231013_074011_compress52.jpg ​
     
    Aquitaine, Oct 12, 2023
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