Art and function converge with striking results in the work of our newest artist, New York’s Silas Blacklow. A talented and passionate craftsperson working in the Finger Lakes region, Silas has created this one-of-a-kind petty chef knife by combining a house-made mosaic damascus steel pattern of his design with ancient bog oak and carved fine silver. Named for the fleeting 19th century constellation Noctua, meaning “owl” in Latin, the magnificent object connects our own Mother Nature with the cosmos. Etched to reveal a beautiful, organic pattern of alternating high-carbon alloys, the blade’s steel is shaped for a variety of cutting tasks around the kitchen in a size, 160mm long and 44mm tall, and profile that will easily serve as any chef’s go-to tool. Especially thin along the hard, razor-sharp edge, the blade enjoys Silas’ slightly convex geometry that slims downward from a tapering spine. Tough and rigid in the rear for chopping, the forward inches exhibit a touch of lateral flexibility as the blade’s spine culminates at an extremely fine, needle-like tip perfect for precision slicing and detail work. And the visual artistry is only just getting started. Where the damascus steel flares outward to form the integral forged handle bolster, Silas has carved an owl into the right side, with a full moon and stars of fine silver on the left. Completing the build, with stepped, museum fit-up, tapering bog oak makes up the primary handle material before reaching a butt cap, as stunning as any, carved by hand with hammer and chisel from solid, fine silver. Balancing just behind the blade’s heel, the knife is light and quick in the hand, while leaving no small mark on the chef’s heart.