Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Metalware, Room 116, The Belinda Gentle Gallery

Knife

1710-1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The blue and white decoration on this knife handle is characteristic of Moustiers 'faience' (tin-glazed earthenware). Pierre Clérissy (about 1651-1728), of the town of Faenza, assisted by the painter François Viry (1659-97), founded the first earthenware factory at Moustiers in 1679. The town went on to become an important centre for the production of decorated faience throughout the 18th century.

Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Steel, with handle of tin-glazed earthenware and a silver ferrule
Brief description
Knife with earthenware handle, probably Clérissy Factory, Moustiers, Southern France, 1710-40
Physical description
Knife with a handle of tin-glazed earthenware in blue and white and a silver ferrule.
Dimensions
  • Length: 25.8cm
  • Maximum width: 2.7cm
Credit line
Given by J. H. Fitzhenry
Summary
The blue and white decoration on this knife handle is characteristic of Moustiers 'faience' (tin-glazed earthenware). Pierre Clérissy (about 1651-1728), of the town of Faenza, assisted by the painter François Viry (1659-97), founded the first earthenware factory at Moustiers in 1679. The town went on to become an important centre for the production of decorated faience throughout the 18th century.

Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.
Collection
Accession number
990-1902

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Record createdFebruary 4, 2005
Record URL
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