589 - WMF Art Nouveau Fruit Knife Set, Twelve Knives with Mother-of-Pearl Handles in a Stand

WMF Art Nouveau Fruit Knife Set, Twelve Knives with Mother-of-Pearl Handles in a Stand Metal, silver plated, mother-of-pearl. Set of twelve fruit knives in a matching stand. The gold-coloured blades lanceolate, with a stepped shoulder and a tapering point, marked in the blade STAHLBRONCE; the handles of two riveted mother-of-pearl scales with a fluted ferrule ring and a spherical pommel. The side supports are shaped like eagle heads, connected by two horizontal struts; in the center is a rectangular block with a geometric Art Nouveau relief, containing the blade holder. Above the side supports an arched, slotted retaining band which arranges the knives in a fan. The stand marked with B, the ostrich mark in a rectangle, I/0 and OX. Condition commensurate with age, traces of age and use, the stand partly rubbed. Knives L. 16 cm, stand 10.5x17.5x4.5 cm (HxWxD) The Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik at Geislingen was around 1900 the largest metalware manufacturer in Europe and introduced Art Nouveau into series production. The ostrich mark identifies the products of the firm; the accompanying letters indicate alloy and finish, I/0 standing for the thickness of the silver plating and OX for an oxidised, darkened surface. The designation Stahlbronce refers to the blade alloy used by WMF, which produces a gold-coloured, non-rusting surface and was preferred for fruit and dessert cutlery because it does not react with fruit acids. Fruit cutlery belonged to middle-class table culture around 1900 and was sold as a set in its own stand.