~ Cased Set Of Six Silver Handled Fruit Knives By Jays Of London c1899-1903 ~
A nice set of six small knives with cast silver (not solid) handles by Jays of London.
Of the six knives three are slightly different (but ever so similar) and possibly not original to the set.
Three of the knives are stamped ‘Jays’ to the blades, the other three have plain blades. The three without ‘Jays’ mark are very similar to the others but are
slightly longer, have a very slight difference in blade shape and have an ever so slightly different variation in pattern to the handles.
The knives are all hallmarked for silver to the handles but not to the blades. The blades appear to be silver plated steel.
The three marked ‘Jays’ are hallmarked for silver, London, 1899 and have a makers mark for William Hutton & Sons Ltd.
The other three are hallmarked for silver, London, 1903 and have a makers mark of ‘J.S’.
The knives come in the original black leatherette case with blue velvet and cream silk lining named ‘Jays, Oxford St, London’.
~ Dimensions ~
The knives measure 17.5cm and 18cm (just over and just under 7 inches) in length.
The case measures 22cm (8 ¾ inches) by 18cm (7 inches) by 2.5cm (1 inch).
The cased set weighs 510g.
~ Condition ~
One of the knives marked ‘Jays’ has a reasonable amount of denting and one of the others has a little damage to the joint between handle and blade,
but the others are in a good condition with only general light wear and the odd tiny dent.
The case has some wear to the outside but is in a reasonably good condition on the inside with only a small tear and mild discolouration to the silk.