Wedding knife and fork

anoniem, 1597

In the 16th century a groom would give his bride a set of wedding cutlery bearing their names or initials. This gold set is distinguished by its refined engraving, the designs of which were inspired by contemporary prints by Theodor de Bry. In the cutlery, the dark passages of the prints are executed in niello (a black mixture of silver, lead and sulphur).