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Product Details
A RARE DELUXE VICTORIAN BOWIE KNIFE SIGNED THORNHILL, LONDON, WITH SILVER-MOUNTED SCABBARD AND CARVED EBONY HILT,
the scabbard mounts London hallmarked for 1864, the knife with 10in. blade of bowie form false-edged for the last 3 1/2in. (one edge nick), interrupted spirally carved semi pipe-back, squared ricasso with scalloped edges and signed 'THORNHILL LONDON' below a 'V.R.' and crown device, straight iron cross-guard with coin-edge milling, the left side notched for a scabbard lock and shaped quillions carved with multiple grooves, turned white-metal collar, ebony hilt carved with a realistic representation of a wild boar's head, complete with its silver mounted black leather scabbard (scabbard lock absent, some denting to drag)
Provenance: Strictly speaking, Walter Thornhill was a high-end London retailer in New Bond Street and this knife was probably made in Sheffield. The owner, Walter Thornhill (1806-1887), had been born at Stoke Newington, listed as a stationer and rag merchant in the 1840s. By 1851, he was listed in the Census as a ‘master cutler', employing ten men at 144 New Bond Street. He had married Sophia Turner in 1834 and they had two sons: Edward Baylies (1841-1911) and Hubert (1849-1928). Walter Thornhill took a particular interest in travelling bags. In 1871, he described himself in the Census as a dressing case manufacturer; and also registered a patent for an ‘improvement' in travelling bags. His eldest son, Edward, became a civil engineer, so Walter recruited Hubert to partner him in the business. Until 1885, they were joined by Albert Barker. Walter's business apparently thrived. At his death on 1 May 1887 (aged 80), he left a fortune over £45,000 (worth £4.6m at today's prices). He was buried at Norwood Cemetery.
Thornhill's sold a wide range of cutlery – table knives, cutlery canteens, sportsman's knives, hunting knives – besides dressing cases, jewellery, fancy goods, and silverware. As a retailer, Thornhill's bought in its stock from makers around the country, but particularly from Sheffield. Atkins Bros and Martin Hall are known to have sometimes supplied Thornhill. Hubert took over the running of the firm on Walter's death, though in 1895 (when Thornhill's registered as a private limited company) his brother and T. Worlock were also listed as directors. The luxury goods market was booming in the 1880s and 1890s, particularly in London. Thornhill opened another branch in Kensington and, armed with its Royal Warrants, advertised regularly in the pages of the leading society journals and newspapers.
However, in 1898 the business was wound up voluntarily, with a reconstruction promised. Perhaps Hubert was a bad manager; or maybe the business was unable to compete with retailers in the city who were also manufacturers (such as Mappin & Webb). In 1905, Thornhill's was liquidated and the stock sold at knockdown prices. The business lingered for a few years, run by its managers, but by 1912 the shop had been demolished. Hubert retired. When he died on 6 February 1928 at Priory Road, Bedford Park, he left £666.
We are gratefully indebted to hawleysheffieldknives.com for the above information
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Estimate £400-600
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