Antique 1907 Birmingham silver mother pearl w t s .ld William Thomas Staniforth

Antique 1907 Birmingham silver w t s .ld William Thomas Staniforth fruit knife with stunning mother of pearl handle 19 cm fully opened and 8 1/2 cm closed a truly stunning highly collectible item.

A mother of pearl fruit knife with two blades, one of which is sterling silver, is a classic and elegant collectible piece. The presence of WTS Ld as a marking likely refers to William Thomas Stanton Ltd, a known British manufacturer. The company specialised in cutlery and pocket knives, operating primarily in Sheffield, which was renowned for its knife-making industry.

Mother of pearl was a popular material used for decorative knife handles due to its delicate and lustrous appearance. The sterling silver blade would have been used for fruit, as silver is resistant to corrosion from acidic juices, making it ideal for cutting fruit without imparting a metallic taste.

In terms of value, factors such as the condition of the mother of pearl, the clarity of the markings, and any additional decorative elements or engravings will play a significant role. These types of fruit knives are often sought after by collectors, especially those interested in vintage or antique cutlery from Birmingham

To determine the potential value and provenance of your WTS Ld mother of pearl fruit pocket knife with a sterling silver blade, here are a few factors that could help with evaluation:

Condition:

Mother of Pearl Handle: Look for any cracks, chips, or signs of wear. Handles in pristine condition add significant value.

Blades: Ensure the blades are not overly tarnished or corroded. Polished or lightly patinaed blades are desirable.

Markings: Clear and legible hallmarks or stamps like WTS Ld and any silver assay marks are key to identifying authenticity and origin.

Samuel Staniforth Ltd. of Sheffield, England are manufacturers of The Smithfield range of knives.

They were established in 1864 and have over 100 years of experience in the production of quality forged cutlery for the professional user.

The "Bull" mark stands for high quality and reliability and it is the mark of a progressive English company who consider service as one of its foremost obligations.

The range of products that carry The Smithfield mark have all the qualities the professional prefers, because they were designed after extensive market research, with assitance of butchers, slaughtermen and caterers in many countries of the world.

The knife edge stays sharper longer than traditional knives due to the Molybdenum Stainless Steel blade.

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If purchasing this item, as a buyer, we will require you to verify your age and confirm that you are not under the age of 18 years. This item will require the recipient of the delivery to provide the courier with ID confirming their age. The package can only be delivered into the hands of a person aged 18 or over, as it contains a bladed item and/or something which may be construed as an offensive weapon. As a seller, we exercise all due diligence to fulfil this requirement. If for any reason we doubt the age of the buyer to be over 18, we may refuse to complete the sale. Any loss of fees will be entirely at the buyer's own risk.