A Chelsea Knife, Red Anchor period, circa 1755
Both sides of the flattened pistol haft are moulded with a panel, picked out with a gilt line. These panels contain a colourful floral spray and a smaller sprig, painted in the style of Meissen deutsche Blumen. The narrow sides are painted with scattered sprigs. Fitted with a silver ferrule, the steel blade is stamped with a cutler’s mark of a star.
Provenance: An English Private Collection.
Dimensions: Length (including blade) 23.3 cm.
Condition: There is some wear to the gilt line decoration, two fine cracks to the haft, and minute abbrasions to the glazed surface. No other damage and no restoration.
Chelsea Porcelain, Elizabeth Adams (Barrie & Jenkins, 1987).
Cutlery: From Gothic to Art Deco – The J. Hollander Collection, Jan van Trigt (Petraco-Pandora NV, 1999).