Eye Spy: Lady's Pen Knife

Posted on Tuesday, 27th February 2024 by Janine Rizzetti

Our object this week is a lady’s pen-knife, used in Heidelberg between 1890s and 1920s. Small knives were kept in pockets to sharpen and trim quill writing pens, hence the term pen-knife or pocket knife. This lady’s pen-knife, with a fitted ring, was likely designed for carrying on a chatelaine – a clasp attached to a woman’s belt, with suspended chains to hold small decorative and useful items.