Find Spot record MDO47981 - Post-medieval knife handle, Milton Abbas

An ivory knife handle carved with figures representing the virtues, and found in 1983. Comparison with other examples suggests that the knife handle is either Genoese and of late seventeenth-century date, or Flemish and late sixteenth century. The exact find spot is not known, but it was described as being somcwhere between the present village of Milton Abbas and the Abbey Church.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 126 (Serial). SDO84.

'The knife illustrated in figure 14 and plate 3 was found between the present village of Milton Abbas and the Abey church in 1983 by C. H. R. Fookes, with whom the object remains. Photographs were submitted to Anna Somers Cocks of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who commented that the Victoria and Albert has a knife and fork set whose handles are very similarly carved with figures of the Virtues (Inv. No. M. 97-1973). It is uncertain whether the Victoria and Albert examples and the Milton Abbas knife are Genoese and late 17th century, or Flemish and late 16th century. The silver band below the ivory is unmarked.'

Record last edited

Jun 18 2024 12:18PM