Up for sale is 1912 England Sheffield Folding Sterling silver Hallmarked pocket knife. This lovely little fruit knife has mother-of pearl scales with an inlaid silver shield on the face scale. The blade has fine, clear hallmarks and is intricately carved with leaves and scrolls.

 

It was made in 1912 by John Yeomans Cowlishaw and was hallmarked at the Sheffield Assay Office.

Cowlishaw knives never needed advertising, the knives themselves were their own advertisement. Indeed only one Cowlishaw advertisement has ever been traced. 

The Cowlishaw story is quite tragic. Having established himself with an enviable reputation for making silver fruit knives, John Yeomans Cowlishaw became depressed when his wife died in 1895 and he committed suicide soon afterwards. His son took over the business and continued trading until the outbreak of the First World War. 

This fine example of the Cowlishaw brand is in excellent condition. 

The blade has been slightly bent at some point in its history, but this does not detract from its beauty — it measures 66mm when closed and 115mm when open.