Accession Number

M051

Description

A silver-plated and stainless steel luncheon knife, the blade is flat on both sides, has straight edges and a rounded end. The blade is 9.4 cm long, the handle is silver-plated and elongated pear-shaped in form. On the front and back edges of the handle, repeating in a single line are tiny flat dots. Engraved in script on one side of the handle is the name, "Dolaura". On the same side but on the blade near the join of the handle and blade is the manufacturer's name (Carrington) and address of 130 Regent St. W. (London, U.K.) stamped into the metal.

Narrative

This knife was used by the Dunsmuir's aboard their yacht Dolaura.

 In 1920, the yacht was sold to Arthur Meeker and renamed the VICTORIA; from 1922 to 1924 the yacht belonged to James Shewan and renamed the PATRICIA; from 1926 to 1928 the yacht belonged to Russell A. Alger and was renamed the LAURENTIAN; from 1929 to 1936  the yacht belonged to George W. Childs Drexel and was renamed the ALCEDO.

From 1937 to 1939 the yacht belonged to John C. Sword of Britain and was renamed the VALENA; at the outbreak of WW2, the yacht was requisitioned by the Admiralty, named HMS VALENA and used to hunt enemy submarines until 1945.

VALENA was returned to Mr. Sword and then sold to Pontos Cia de Nav (J. Lavanos), Panama and used for passenger service in the Mediterranean. The yacht was scrapped at La Spezia, Italy on December 30, 1951.  

An aerial photograph of the HMS Valena can be seen here: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205017805

History of Use

This knife was used aboard the TSSY DOLAURA, the private yacht built in 1908 for Hon. James Dunsmuir by the Fleming and Ferguson shipyard of Paisely, Scotland. It was named by combining the names of Dola and Laura Dunsmuir. Before the yacht was sold by Mr. Dunsmuir, various objects bearing the name "Dolaura" were removed and handed down through the family. This knife was given to The Castle Society by a person not related to the Dunsmuir family. She purchased it at Kilshaw's auction house in Victoria B.C. in the late 20th Century.  

Date

1908

Dimensions

2.1 x 1.1 x 21.5 cm

Material

Metal, steel; Metal, silver

Technique

Forged; Hollow cast; Electroplated

Country of Origin

United Kingdom