Ellis Island Folding Knife

The Ellis Island Folding Knife continues in the spirit of artistic mastery and the tradition of Old World craftsmanship by combining the centuries-old technique of Guilloché with the art and expertise of hard enamel.

Hand-crafted in solid sterling silver, the scales of the knife are engraved, or diamond-cut in high and low relief using a centuries-old technique known as Guilloché. Using a mortar and pestle, a composition of glass, water, and metal oxides is ground for hours by hand. When settled, the water is removed, leaving the fine paste that is the basis for hard (hot) enamel. A quill is then used to apply each coat of the mixture to the surface of the metal, ensuring that the entire guilloché area is completely covered. The components are then fired in a furnace at temperatures exceeding 1,000° F, fusing the enamel to the metal and forming a layer of glass.