A Mennecy-Villeroy Knife, circa 1740
Dating from the early duc de Villeroy period of Mennecy, the cannon-shaped haft is decorated with chinoiserie vignettes in a distinctive palette of yellow, blue, red, and turquoise. A man wearing a yellow robe stands before a kneeling figure, the latter clasping a parasol. Other scenes depict exotic flowers, palm trees and pavillions. The end of the haft is painted with a red scroll and starburst motif. Fitted with a silver ferrule and cap, and a steel blade of French type, stamped with a cutler’s mark.
Provenance: An English Private Collection.
Condition: No damage or restoration, just minor wear to the enamel decoration.
Dimensions: Length 27.3 cm (including blade)
French Porcelain: A Catalogue of the British Museum Collection, Aileen Dawson (British Museum Press, 2000).
French Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century, Christopher Maxwell (V&A Publishing, 2009).
Cutlery: From Gothic to Art Deco – The J. Hollander Collection, Jan van Trigt (Petraco-Pandora NV, 1999).