A Chelsea Knife, circa 1750-55
This small white Chelsea knife is moulded with flowering prunus branches, in the manner of the blanc de chine porcelains of Dehua. The blade is fitted with a silver ferrule.
Provenance: An English Private Collection.
Condition: No cracks or restoration. There is minor roughness and staining to the raised decoration in places, with light wear to the glaze, consistent with use. The blade, stamped with unidentified cutler’s marks (J?P L L) is held in place with a ferrule.
Dimensions: Length 18.4 cm (including blade)
A Review of Chelsea, Chelsea-Derby and Derby Knife and Fork Hafts, Tony Stevenson (ECC Transactions, vol. 14, no. 1, 1990).
Cutlery: From Gothic to Art Deco – The J. Hollander Collection, Jan van Trigt (Petraco-Pandora NV, 1999).