Knife Handle (manche de couteau)
c. 1710–1730
Medium
soft-paste porcelain, steel blade
Dimensions
l. 19.1 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1964.511
Tags
About this artwork
Prior to the 18th century, personal flatware was produced in expensive materials as a luxury item that communicated wealth and status. Porcelain handles were introduced at the beginning of the 18th century, likely by the Saint-Cloud factory. This handle is decorated with a pattern in underglaze blue inspired by porcelain imported from China and has been fitted to a steel blade.
About the Artist
Saint Cloud Porcelain Factory (French)
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...