Knife

Object Name:

Knife

Object ID:

1995.528.17

Creator:

Perry, William (1819-1884) -- Woodcarver

Place of Origin:

England

Date:

1863

Description:

Souvenir knife, carved wood and ivory, in case. Ivory blade, inscribed in black within a banner: "SAML. G. DRAKE. / BOSTON. U.S / FROM / JOSH. H. TUCK / LONDON. ENGLAND". Handle of intricately carved oak, with bust of William Shakespeare at top and man on horse on back; the man ("Herne the Hunter") has stag horns on his head. Silver band around base of handle, engraved "HERNE'S OAK, WINDSOR 1863". Brown faux leather case with elaborate brass hinges; cover stamped in gold, "SAML. G. DRAKE / BOSTON / U. S."; purple velvet lining (faded) cut in shape of the knife; small brass padlock. Handwritten note in case: "From Florence Drake Bowker, 562 Broadway, Everett, Mass. (grandaughter of Samuel G. Drake)".

Material:

Wood
Oak
Skeletal
Ivory

Dimensions:

W-1.9 L-18 D-1.5 inches

Provenance:

Presented to Samuel Gardner Drake (1798-1875) of Boston by Joseph H. Tuck of London, 1863. Drake was a teacher and historian, born in Pittsfield, NH. His mother was Love Muchmore Tucke. Joseph H. Tuck was probably Joseph Henry Tuck (1812-1875), Samuel's cousin. The knife was donated to the New Hampshire Historical Society by Samuel's granddaughter, Florence Drake Bowker of Everett, MA,

Herne's Oak, in Windsor Great Park, England, was associated with Herne the Hunter, a legendary figure first described by Shakespeare in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (c. 1597). The oak blew down in 1863 and pieces of the tree were made into souvenirs by William Perry (1819-1884), woodcarver to Queen Victoria.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Drake, Samuel G. (1798-1875)

Subjects:

Knives, Wood carvings, Ivory, Oaks, Shakespeare, William, Herne the Hunter, Souvenirs, Legendary characters