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.
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.
Dimensions: Length 23.3 cm (including blade)
Chelsea Porcelain, Elizabeth Adams (Barrie & Jenkins, 1987).
Cutlery: From Gothic to Art Deco – The J. Hollander Collection, Jan van Trigt (Petraco-Pandora NV, 1999).