Browse the Silver Collection

Click to hide image

Knife and bodkin case

Knife and bodkin: steel and gilded copper. Case: silver filigree and tortoise shell

Origin: Probably Germany

Date: Late 16th century

10.1 cm length of knife; 9.8 cm length of bodkin; 7.4 cm length of case

Bequeathed by C.D.E. Fortnum, 1899; WA1899.CDEF.V410

T. Schroder (2009), no. 546

A bodkin is a sharp, needle-like tool used for punching holes in cloth or leather.

Information derived from T. Schroder, British and Continental Gold and Silver in the Ashmolean (2009)