The Knife: Actual man’s best friend?

The Knife: Actual man’s best friend?

Macchiavello, Micaela Mandiola; Rivadeneira, Ricardo

Poster:

An object that has always interacted with men is the knife; humans have been making them since 2.5 million years ago according to the Paleolithic tools found in Tanzania. It’s been speculated that the use of knives even predates the use of fire. Throughout history they’ve been used as weapons, tools, ceremonial items, and as eating utensils for longer than any other implement. Our reliance on our most fundamental tool has not waned; indeed it has if anything intensified. For thousands of years people always carried a knife with them, including to the table, early knives were proud personal possessions that were used to cut food into individual portions, as well as to spear food from communal pots and trenchers. In Saxon England a knife known as scramasax was the constant companion of its owner. The country of Panama has always been a multicultural place, that’s why here we can find a wide variety of kitchen knives in the market. We have them from all over the world, same as its population. It’s important to mention that this tool has taken advantage of the technological advances of every civilization and period in history.

An object that has always interacted with men is the knife; humans have been making them since 2.5 million years ago according to the Paleolithic tools found in Tanzania. It’s been speculated that the use of knives even predates the use of fire. Throughout history they’ve been used as weapons, tools, ceremonial items, and as eating utensils for longer than any other implement. Our reliance on our most fundamental tool has not waned; indeed it has if anything intensified. For thousands of years people always carried a knife with them, including to the table, early knives were proud personal possessions that were used to cut food into individual portions, as well as to spear food from communal pots and trenchers. In Saxon England a knife known as scramasax was the constant companion of its owner. The country of Panama has always been a multicultural place, that’s why here we can find a wide variety of kitchen knives in the market. We have them from all over the world, same as its population. It’s important to mention that this tool has taken advantage of the technological advances of every civilization and period in history.

Palavras-chave:

DOI: 10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0126

Referências bibliográficas

• [1] Antonelli, P. (2005) Humble Masterpieces, New York: Harper Collins.
• [2] Flinchum, R. (2008) American Design, New York: The Museum of Modern Art.
• [3] McDermott, C. (1997) 20th Design, London: Carlton Books.
• [4] Macgregor, N. (2011) A History of the World in One hundred objects, London: Viking.
• [5] Read, H. (1967) Arte e Industria, Buenos Aires: Infinito.
• [6] Patrick, B. and Thompson, J. (2009) An Uncommon History of Uncommon Things, Washington D.C. Phaidon Design Classics, Volumes 1-2-3, (2006) New York: Phaidon Press Limited.

Como citar:

Macchiavello, Micaela Mandiola; Rivadeneira, Ricardo; "The Knife: Actual man’s best friend?", p-52-53. In: Tradition, Transition, Tragectories: major or minor influences? [=ICDHS 2014 - 9th Conference of the International Committee for Design History and Design Studies]. São Paulo: Blucher, 2014.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0126