Early Antique c1750 English Walnut Knife Box Fitted For Forks & Knives For Sale

WE ARE A LIQUIDATION FIRM OF UPPER END ESTATES IN THE DFW AREA OF TEXAS. ENSURING YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR #1 PRIORITY.A HISTORY
In the 18th century, cutlery was expensive, as it was often made of steel, silver, or silver plate. As a result, owning matched sets became a mark of wealth and gentility. To preserve their social and financial investment, owners stored their cutlery in knife boxes, which could be closed and locked when not in use.
The earliest knife boxes were either completely square or might have a simple, shallow bow front. But as the eighteenth century progressed and the sinuous lines of the Rococo style spread across Europe, knife boxes began to appear with deep, elaborately bowed fronts with serpentine curves. The early knife boxes had been made with walnut as this one we are offering. Unfortunately, knife boxes fell out of favor about 1820, and from then on sideboards included a separate cutlery drawer.
The forks were placed in their box in an upright position, similar to knives, but in the case of forks, with the tines topmost, the handles placed into the small narrow compartments in the base of the boxes. At this time, all knife boxes were custom-made, so the customer would order knife boxes to hold the number of silver knives and forks they owned. A dozen of each was a common number in those early days. Since nearly all knife boxes were made of wood, despite the interior and exterior decoration they might ultimately receive, they were made by cabinet-makers, those craftsman with the most sophisticated skills in fine woodworking.
This box is custom fitted to accept twelve forks and knives and two service pieces. It was most probably made before spoons had become common at the table.Size 13.5\" H at the back and 8\" H at the front. Interior 8.75\" W x 8.50\" D