Two Mennecy Knives, circa 1745
The moulded porcelain pistol hafts of these two Mennecy knives are painted with European floral sprays in a subtle palette of green, yellow and pink. The ends of the hafts terminate in moulded feathered scrolls picked out in pink enamel. Fitted with silver ferrules, the steel blades stamped for Jules Piault, Paris.
Provenance: The Darblay Collection, Paris; an English Private Collection.
Condition: Good – just a few short hairlines to the porcelain, extending from the ferrules, and some very light wear from use. No other damage and no restoration.
Dimensions: Length 19 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).