Set of six knives
1767–71
Medium
Gilt silver, silver
Dimensions
Length (each): 8 7/16 in. (21.4 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1979
Accession Number
1979.396.16–.21
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of six knives, by Parisian silversmith Louis-Josephenhendrick between 7 and 1771, exemplifies the opulent metalwork of late Louis XV-era France. Fashioned from silver with gilt accents—gold applied over the silver surface for a luxurious sheen—each knife measures8 7/16 inches (21.4 cm) long, perfectly suited for formal dining. Lenhendrick, a goldsmith working in Paris, adhered to the strict guild standards that ensured unparalleled quality in European decorative arts. These knives reflect the height of rococo refinement transitioning toward neoclassicism, where silverware w...