Knife

Knife A fruit knife from the collection of the Potoccy family; metal, wood; it stems from the beginning of the 20th century. A small fruit knife, the blade and holder are made of metal. The blade is quite broad, flat, narrowing towards the end all the way to the pointy pinnacle; the base shaped like a trapezoid, transforming into the grip, flat, with nut wood veneer, fixed by two rivets, and finished with a trapezoidal metal piece. The Polish word ‘sztućce’ [cutlery] originates from the German term Stütze meaning „support”. Cutlery, meaning, all the various kinds of spoons, forks, belong to table dressing. They are used for the consumption of food and their manual preparation. Depending on their sizes and shapes, they are assigned to various meals served at the table. The knife is most likely the oldest piece of tableware and originate from battle weapons (cleavers, daggers) or those used during hunting (hunting daggers). Knives (in the kitchen and at the table) are used to cut and separate pieces of food.