Edgar Mortimer Eoff and George L. Shepard formed their partnership in New York City. They sold much of their production through silverware and luxury goods retailers such as Ball, Black and Company. By 1855, Eoff and Shepard was a midsized firm in Manhattan that utilized steam power and employed twenty men and five boys. In that year, the firm manufactured 20,800 ounces of silver.

This cake knife, with a broad, scimitar-like blade, features a stylized cornucopia as its handle. Eoff and Shepard adapted this form to create handles and spouts for many other objects, such as pitchers, teapots, and coffeepots.