TWO-PIECE CUTLERY SET Italy, probably Florence, around 1500(?). The blade and fork probably French, circa 1600. Edged handles with niello decoration, the upper and lower sides with stylised trophy decoration and empty coat of arms cartouche, the narrow sides with stylised leaf fillet. The gilt bronze grip caps in the shape of a capital with floral decoration in relief. Cribbed gilt bronze ferrule. Centre-pointed iron blade, the base of the blade chiselled with a surrounding acanthus leaf and gilt. The blade engraved on the obverse side with leafy vine decoration and gilt. Forge mark. The fork head corresponds to the knife, fork with two prongs. L Knife 21.7 cm, fork 20 cm. Gilding later and rubbed, blade with traces of corrosion, handles with minor wear to the edges as well as scratched and with slight dents. The handle partly reworked or modified. Cf. for a similar grip: Arthur Pabst. The Richard Zschille art collections in Grossenhain. Berlin, 1893. pl. 7, fig. 58. and catalogue Museo Nazionale del Bargello, p. 93, nos. 103 and 104. A piece of cutlery of Duke Cosimo I de Medici (1519-1574) with similar form and decoration is known from the former collection of Franz Emmerich Count Lamberg (auction catalogue Dorotheum, Cutlery Collection Franz Emmerich Count Lamberg. Vienna, 1912. p. 92, ill. 79/80). For further details see catalogue text for lot 1621.