Travel cutlery set

Silver-gilt, steel blade
36-piece, knife and fork handles made of Meissen porcelain with polychromic painting
Augsburg 1729-1730
Gottfried Jakob Mayr (master ca. 1728-1731)
Length (spoon): 17.3 cm
in a shell-shaped leather canteen

This set of cutlery was made in a collaborative effort by an Augsburg goldsmith and the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory; with its superb execution and precious materials, it signifies a crowning achievement of  European craftsmanship in the first third of the 18th century.

Far Eastern influence in the decoration of the cutlery, known since the days of Marco Polo, is found not only in the painting of the porcelain handles. The spoon handles show in cast relief individual Chinese figures sitting, standing, playing musical instruments.