About this item Steak knife total length : 23 cm Stainless steel blade : 2.5 mm thickness 2 Solid stainless steel bolsters Hand wash recommended Delivered with certificate of origin and guarantee 6 knives packed in an oak box The gold-satin finish of the wood handle can be maintained by the occasional rub with oil-soaked rags. The stainless steel bolsters need no upkeep. If the cutlery is put in the dish washer the wood will need rubbing with a cloth soaked in oil. More about Ebony Ebony has been used from time immemorial. It has been found for example in the tombs of Ancient Egypt. Towards the end of the 16th century it was used for small precious objects such as finely worked gift boxes for the luxury industry. Due to the high density and hardness of this wood it was also used for making panels and bas reliefs for decorating places of worship or rich houses. After the Renaissance ebony was considered one of the most precious commodities that could be carried on the seas. In French the term derives from the word for cabinetmaker known as the ‘ébéniste’. Its fine glittery texture due to the formation of oxalic acid crystals give it an unusual and unique sparkling appearance. It comes polished very smooth matt or glossy and is the precious material of choice for making statues valuable decorative objects and of course knife handles. Ebony grows in mountain forests at a low altitude on relatively poor soil and in high temperatures. Ebony is found in Madagascar Gabon and India.