Metalwork

Sheffield’s Metalwork Collection was created as a reference collection, showcasing excellence to inspire the city’s own manufacturers, designers and makers.

It was one of the founding collections at Weston Park Museum, which opened in 1875, and has grown to include over 15,000 items. Today, it is the most extensive grouping of Sheffield-made cutlery, flatware and holloware in existence and a testament to the city’s leading role in metalwork design, production, and innovation. The collection was awarded Designated Status in 1999 in recognition of its outstanding national and historical significance.

The cutlery collection comprises examples of table, Bowie and multibladed knives as well as razors, tools, scissors and surgical instruments from the 14th century to the present day. Major collectors represented included Camille Page (1922), Sanders-Fiske (1932), Ridpath (1942) and Bill Brown (2004).

The collection also represents major developments in metalwork over the centuries, and includes materials such as silver, electroplate, pewter, Britannia metal, Old Sheffield Plate and Stainless Steel. Significant groupings include the Bradbury collection of Old Sheffield Plate, the Jack Scott Collection of Britannia metal, and a selection of items collected to mark the anniversary of the development of Stainless Steel in 2013.

Contemporary collecting from Sheffield makers and manufacturers continues today. Recent acquisitions include Clothed Akin (2023) by Francisca Onumah presented by the Contemporary Art Society through the Griffin Award, Acanthus VII (2023) by Shinta Nakajima presented by the Contemporary Art Society Omega Fund, Wharncliffe Whittler folding knife by Steven Cocker (2023) and Sheffield Rivers Contour Map by Holly Clifford (2023).

If you want to search for a specific item, phrase or object number, enter your search term in speech marks e.g. "Benty Grange".

Click here to search our full online collection.