Vintage letter opener/page turner in the shape of a eastern sword. The handle is finished with scrolled, different colour metals. A lovely desk piece (more information to follow)
23 cm long 2 cm ryat handle
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The letter opener evolved from the paper knife in the 19th century. Both tools were used on desks and had decorative handles.
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Paper knives
Invented in the early 1800s to cut the uncut paper used to print books
A paper knife's smooth, rounded edge cut the paper without damaging it
Paper knives are no longer commonly used, except by collectors
Letter openers
Developed from paper knives to open envelopes without damaging them
Became popular in the mid-1800s with the rise of flat-rate postal
Letter openers were made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and ivory
Antique letter openers are often engraved with the owner's name or initials
History of letter openers
Letter openers were used by the French from the beginning
Victorian letter openers often had sterling silver handles and blades made of steel or zinc
Letter openers were inexpensive to make and became widely available in the mid-20th century
Electric letter openers can handle multiple envelopes at once, but the blade can damage the contents