160 Year Old Sterling Silver Fruit Knife Inscribed “Ella January 1, 1856”

Nearly 160 years ago, this was a loving gift to a beloved woman. Her name was Ella and it was given to her on New Year’s Day, only a week after Christmas in 1856 when Christmas and New Year’s Day gifting traditions started to peak for the very first time. 

Just to hold the knife as she did so long ago is as if to touch her hand in time.... 

The knife is made entirely of sterling silver. It was well used to delicately peel fruit, especially oranges if one could afford such luxurious food. The blade was not sharp and designed to slip under peels. Ella would have used this knife in a most genteel manner. 

This repoussé fruit knife in a comes from a Maine oceanside estate. It is in excellent overall. 

The knife bears the American silversmith hallmark of Tifft & Whiting of Attleboro, Massachusetts, which was bought out by William Whiting in 1853. The knife was likely purchased from Whiting’s jewelry shop as recorded in the 1855 census, especially since the knife is inscribed as it is. 

The handcolored engraved illustration seen in this listing is from the January 1856 edition of “Godey’s Lady’s Book.” It is a reminder of what Ella and other women may well have looked like…in a time that was nearly 160 years ago. 

The knife was well-used. It has a slight dent in the blade, but remains strong. It measures 2-7/8 inches or 7.30 cm long when folded. Extended, it is 5 inches or 12.7 cm in length.