Cargoes #1

2008

The blade steel is the laminated steel that I developed during my PhD and has veins of pure silver running through it.

This is a set of three knives in memory of my father.

Last year when he had had a stroke and was struggling with his memory, my father was sitting with his friends recalling poetry that they had learnt nearly seventy years previously.

Cargoes by John Masefield was his favourite and the verses are just so evocative, that I started jotting down ideas for these knives when I was listening to them.

Each knife matches a verse.

Sometimes, I’ll carry an idea for a knife in my head or sketch book for a time, while I source materials or finalise a detail. This was one of those projects.

Quinquireme of Ninevah from distant
Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
Apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood and sweet white
wine.