Collection of cutlery from the 14th to the 19th centuries
Within the collection of the Museum, particular prominence can be given to the collection of table settings and kitchen utensils, collected by Horne as testimonies of the material and daily life of the Renaissance. The purpose of the English collector was to re-create, through the objects of his own acquisition, the atmosphere of a Florentine mansion at the end of the fifteenth century, in which the premium on beauty needed to co-exist with the demand for utility. The collection is distinguished by its variety and chronological range, including pieces with handles of ivory, mother-of-pearl, chased silver, and precious stones, which date from as far back as ancient Roman times to as recently as the nineteenth century. Among the noteworthy examples present in the collection are the foldable fork, which can be transformed into a spoon, dating from the seventeenth century, and a pair of tooth-cleaners.
