Which of the following knots is commonly used in fancy work?

The Double Matthew Walker knot is well-regarded in the realm of fancy work due to its decorative appearance and practicality. This knot is often used to create attractive finishes on ropes and is recognized for its aesthetic qualities, making it a popular choice in the art of knot tying. In fancy work, where both functionality and visual appeal are emphasized, the Double Matthew Walker serves as an excellent choice, combining intricate design with usefulness, and it is commonly found in decorative lanyards, decorative ends of rope, and other ornamentation.

The other knots mentioned, while serving important purposes in various aspects of seamanship and knot tying, do not possess the same decorative characteristics needed for fancy work. The Fisherman's Knot is primarily used for securely joining two pieces of rope, the Double Figure Eight is known for its safety and reliability in climbing applications, and the Monkey's Fist is often employed to create weighted ends on ropes for throwing. While these knots are valuable in their own right, they do not align with the intent of being used primarily for decorative purposes.