Sheffield Treasures Exhibition: Celebrating 200 Years of Knife Making
Published: 16th February 2023
The Sheffield Treasures Exhibition is now available to view at Kelham Island Museum. The exhibition is celebrating 200 years of knife making in the city of Sheffield and features the very special 'Stanley Year Knife'.
The 'Stanley Year Knife' was created back in 1821 by Joseph Rodgers & Sons for their showroom on Norfolk Street and is now being gifted to the Hawley Collection, based at Kelham Island Museum.
The ‘Year Knife’, which features an impressive 2,000 blades, will be handed over to the Hawley Collection by Sheffield born Sir George Buckley, the former chairman of Stanley Black & Decker Inc, who are the world's largest makers of hand and power tools, which acquired Stanley Tools and which has owned it ever since.
The Sheffield Treasures project has been created by the Ken Hawley Collection Trust, based at the museum, which has been given a £44,000 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate the Bicentenary (200 years) of the world-famous knife and other significant multi blade knives made in the city and the firms which created them.
Sheffield Assay Office were delighted to loan several knives from our special collection to be on display in the exhibition. It's great to see some nice examples of hallmarks on many of the knives and the blades, as well as a couple of special hallmarks on the Stanley Knife blades, marking the Millenium and the late Queen's Silver Jubilee.
Speaking of the 'Sheffield Treasures' project, our Librarian and Archivist, Emma Paragreen said; "It has been a privilege to work with the Hawley Collection on this exhibition, this has involved dismantling and cleaning the Stanley Knife and bringing the hallmarking blades back to their former glory for the exhibition and sharing its long history. Its also wonderful to see some of the Assay Office collection on display, showcasing the skill and craftsmanship of Sheffield' Little Mesters."
Find out more about Sheffield Treasures here
The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.
To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,
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