Rare Vintage E. Warther Custom Carving Set! Unusual!

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Offered for your consideration is a rare and unusual vintage carving set from E. Warther & Son. Warther knives are always incredibly beautiful and of the very highest quality. The handles are always gorgoeus and serve as a natural contrast to the beauty of the "engine turned" finish of the blades. Warther carving sets in general, while outstanding pieces of functional art, are not all that rare or unusual. After all, anyone can order one of their current sets. However, this set has some unusual attributes and was made for famous musician John Ellison. "Mooney" Warther himself made sets for many dignitaries and celebrities and his family continues to do so. Ronald Reagan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Nelson Madela, Gerald Ford, and Condoleezza Rice are just a few notable owners of Warther knives. Several years ago I sold two sets nearly identical to this one that had been made for a late CBS personality/executive. One of the sets was puchased by a Warther family member for the museum. Ernest Warther was widely regarded as one of the world's finest carvers. His ivory and wood carvings are highly sought after and treasured by those who own them. Warther skill and craftsmanship was legendary. He even carved a scale model of locomotive at a young age that was as finely detailed as you'll see. Warther began making knives in the early 1900's because he simply couldn't find knives to meet his his demands. He made his first kitchen knife for his mother in 1902 at the age of seventeen. He had figured that his tempering process would be ideal for kitchen knives if it would hold an edge while he was carving ebony and ivory. The famous machine-turned finish that gives Warther knives their unique look was actually patented by Warther in 1907, although it is still frequently copied. Warther also made fine custom and fighting knives during WWII. The Warther kitchen knives were featured in an issue of Knives magazine back in the mid 1980's and were touted as being the finest kitchen knives available at any price. I think many who have owned their knives over the years would agree. The quality and performance of Warther knives has remained constant and true to Ernest's old-world craftsmanship over the years, as the business continues to be family owned and operated. The company is currently run by third and fourth generation Warthers and all the qualities that made these knives special in Ernest's day are still t today. Warther knives are still made by hand. The blades are crafted from high-grade tool steel and heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 58-60. The blades are convex ground and this is still done by hand. The handles are of beautiful Vermont Birch and are tightly secured by highly polished rivets. This set has seen light use and has been very well cared for. Warther also made the storage box, which is a work of art in its own right. The inscription inside the lid states that the set was made by E. Warther. The most unusual attribute of this set is that the carving fork does not have Warther's patented finish. It has a mirror finish instead and the markings are darker. I have owned many dozens of Warther knives over the years and this is the very first piece I've ever seen without the machine-turned finish. Both pieces are marked "E. Warther and Sons" and do not have the "Dover, Ohio" marking that more recent knives have. The box is in excellent, original condition with just light storage wear and a few light dings. It was beautifully made and features tongue & groove construction throughout. It is free of any cracks or chips and remains completely original. The knife has been sharpened and shows just some light "steeling" marks along the edge. It has never seen a grinder and the edge is free of any nicks, chips, or damage. The handles on these two are exceptionally gorgeous...even for Warther knives. Both are completely free of any dishwasher damage and they should never see the inside of a dishwasher. Both handles are also free of any cracks, ch... read more

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