Rare 19th-Century Antique Steel "Picault's Patent Oyster Opener", circa 1849

Whilst we love our early antique pieces, we also love the odd "quirky" antique tool, be it for culinary or gardening purposes!

We are delighted to have found such an item in the form of "Picault's Patent Oyster Opener." Patented circa 1849.

This device, invented by the French inventor M Picault, was exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. It is listed in the official catalogue "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also dated 1851, page 227, entry 348.

The device was subsequently sold under exclusive licence in Great Britain and it's territories by W Lund, London.

About Lund of London:

Thomas Lund established his business and warehouse at 57 Cornhill, London in 1804. Initially selling pens and quills, Thomas had expanded the business by about 1815 to include the manufacture of cutlery, writing boxes and other fancy items, taking an additional premises at 56 Cornhill. By 1832, Thomas Lund had added dressing cases to his already extensive and impressive manufacturing repertoire.

William Lund (Thomas’ son), also a cutler and dressing case maker, set up his manufactory and retail shop at 24 Fleet Street, London in 1835. The property had been acquired from William Anderson, a cutler and razor manufacturer, under whom William Lund had been previously apprenticing.

Thomas and William ran their businesses independently, but after Thomas’s death in 1845, William took over the running of both, whilst also expanding his own premises to include 23 Fleet Street. By 1859, the Fleet Street premises had again expanded to include No. 25.

When William Lund died in 1872, his son Charles continued on the business under the name of William Lund.

How it works:

Constructed from two elongated pieces of steel, united by a single pivot, the opener is supported on three small, splayed legs.

Oysters were placed within the rebate of the left side of the ring of the opener and the blade was placed in the rear joint of the oysters two shells. The left hand or the fingers would be placed upon the top of the oyster shell to keep it stable whilst depressing the handle with the right hand. The forced of the blade would thus cut through the mollusc detaching it from the upper shell, leaving it in the bottom shell to be consumed.

Provenance - Ex-private collection, North Yorkshire, England.

Condition - Please refer to the images. The opener still fully functions and the blade remains sharp. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size - Length 25 cm (9 3/4")