Knife Boxes
c.1790
Mahogany veneer, metal, silver
Likely English
JJ.1958.64.1 and .2
These knife boxes were made around 1790 and are made of mahogany veneer. It is possible that these were original to the Jay family as a letter from Sarah Jay’s sister Catherine refers to a bill for knife cases, with knives include. That letter is dated March 30th, 1791 which would match with the date given to our knife boxes.
The origins of these boxes are unknown but could be either English or American made. Knife boxes were owned by wealthy Americans and were often imported from England. They were used for the display and storage of silverware and were often placed on a sideboard along with decanters and wine coolers.
Most knife boxes of the late 18th and early 19th century had the exact same general shape as ours here. Typically, they had square backs, slanted lids and rounded or ‘bowed’ front sections, with more ornate examples from the period having decorative feet on the bottom of the box as well.
Our box is made out of a worked Mahogany veener, with inlaid bands and a column motif going up both sides of the front. The front of both boxes are ‘double-bowed’, which refers to the curve of the wood. There is a metal shield design under the lock escutcheons, or small pieces of metal used for decoration. Knife boxes usually had locks on them for security to prevent theft and to prevent the contents from falling out while being transported.
Although it is called a “knife” box, these boxes often held a variety of silverware, which is indicated by the different sized and shaped holes on the inside.
Most knife boxes of this period were made in either the Sheraton or Hepplewhite styles. It is difficult to distinguish the two styles when looking at the design for these pieces because the two were contemporaries and emphasized a lack of importance in the style for these boxes. Research suggests that the best way to tell the two apart is to look at the legs of the furniture pieces; Hepplewhite legs are squared while Sheraton legs are circular and often tapered towards the bottom.
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