A Place to Rest
One of a pair, this interesting piece is made of clear glass, with two bulbous ends intricately cut into delicate patterns and striations that prevent the object from rolling around the dining room table. The middle section is notched all the way around, belying its purpose.
And what is this object?
It’s a knife rest! Knife rests have graced dining room tables as far back as the 17th century and were commonplace through the early 20th century. Like the name suggests, diners would place their knives onto the knife rest to prevent soiling the tablecloth. At a time when table etiquette was paramount, placing a knife on a plate – or worse yet, the table itself – would have been a major faux pas. And so, the fashionable dinner tables of the middle and upper classes included knife rests to their table settings.
While earlier styles of the 1600s were fashioned from wood or even fragile porcelain, the Victorians preferred rests made from metals, glass, crystal, and horn. Both European and American models could have elaborate figures of people or animals, sometimes molded from metal or painted onto ceramic. Style, of course, depended on the taste and wealth of the host/hostess.
As the focus shifted from formal dining etiquette to a more casual style during the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, knife rests began to fade from fashion. One would be hard pressed to find a knife rest next to their plate at a dinner party today. The need for maintaining clean tablecloths has diminished thanks to advancements in washing efficiency and a more relaxed view on messes.
The next time you go to place your soiled knife on the table, perhaps you’ll wish for a knife rest!