Two matching knives with wooden handles
Two matching knives with wooden handles. Engraving reads Joseph Rodgers & sons, cutlers to her majesty. Shows the star and maltese cross symbol. The company was founded in 1724 when John Rodgers first rented the star and Maltese cross mark from the Cutlers’ Company. John’s three sons John, Joseph and Maurice joined the family business, In 1800 Joseph and Maurice formally dissolved their partnership and the firm was renamed Joseph Rodgers & Sons. While continuing to make high quality products, the late Victorian period onwards were difficult for the company. By 1929 they had sold No. 6 Norfolk Street, and had been recording losses during the Great Depression. From a workforce of 1500 in 1914, the company had reduced to 325 employees in 1961. Joseph Rodgers held the royal warrant for George IV, Williams IV, Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. As the knife reads to her majesty, it is safe to assume that this knife was made during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901). As the knife does not have the words England on it, it was probably made prior to 1891.