Blue & White Handle Fork & Knife Set #5

This is a rare early matching knife and fork set where the handle is made of Saint Cloud porcelain in the first half of the 18th century around 1725. The handle is made of a creamy colored soft paste with a nice under glaze blue decoration typical for them. The handles are an early cannon shape which are hand painted with Renaissance inspired lambrequin designs loosely derived from the broderie ornaments of the designer Jean Berain (1640-1711) and his followers. The ends of the handles are painted with a stylised flower head. The fork has two tines on a baluster stem - a very early design as well. The metal parts are made of steel and the ferrule and decorative end cap made of silver. The blade has a maker's mark impressed in it as shown. The metal parts are original to the piece which is not often the case. The set is in great condition with some oxidation to the metal parts which is normal but someone cleaned them up so they are better looking than most. A tiny bit of wear to the glaze and some minor firing faults common to these early pieces especially since they are softpaste. The fork has a small spot where the glaze was ground down likely to hide a larger firing spot. They display perfectly! Unmarked which is always the case. The fork is 8.5 inches long of which the visible part of the handle is about 3.375 inches. The knife is 11.25 inches long of which the visible part of the handle is about 3.5 inches. Please email me for more information or other pictures.