More properly described as a fine Georgian pen-knife and implement compendium of polished steel between silver-mounted mother of pearl sides, it packed a selection of blades, a corkscrew, a hand vice, augers, a wad punch and other tools along with a silver fruit knife marked for Sheffield 1817, into its handy 43/4in by 21/2in ( 12 x 6.5cm) frame.
The auctioneers expected it to go over its £500-800 estimate but not in the way it did. Dealers took the
bidding much higher but were finally beaten by a determined collector with a bid of £7200.
Nor was the first description of the knife misplaced, incidentally. The collector’s speciality was Swiss Army knives.
How Georgians had the edge on the Swiss
THE jewellery and vertu at Tennants’ sale was led by a pair of 2ct diamond ear studs at £9200 but more eye-catching among the vertu was this forerunner of the Swiss Army knife, right.
