French silver handles and steel blades, fiddle, thread and shell pattern, Paris 1875-1891 by HÉNIN & Cie. French hallmarks "Minerve 1er Titre" Dimensions Meat knives: 24,5 cmCheese knives: 20cm Medium 1492 g Notes HÉNIN & Cie were the maker's of the famous Queen Marie Antoinette's "necessaire" Prov.: According to the Memoirs of Mme Campan, the set was ordered by the Queen in 1791 as a gift to her sister Marie-Christine, Duchess of Saxe-Teschen. It later accompanied the royal family during their flight from Paris. Later it was taken out of the "Mobilier Royal", where it had been deposited after the Queen's imprisonment, on 27 Frimaire Year III (December 17, 1794) for the silver to be melted at the Monnaie. It´s whereabouts were unknown until it reappears in a Paris collection in the 20th century. The Queen's first travel kit, that was actually sent to the Duchess of Saxe-Teschen, is kept in the Louvre. The Grasse set is, in its contents, a simplified replica of the earliest. By comparing the inventory for both sets it seems that the missing components in Grasse (72) are partly smaller and easily lost or breakable objects (needle, comb, paper cutter, knife, brush, etc.). Of those, 75% (57) were silver made and hence probably melted. Museums and Public Institutions • GRASSE, Musée International de La Parfumeries: Casket, nécessaire, mahogany, copper, leather, silver and gilt silver, ebony, ivory, mirror, porcelain, crystal, paper, wood, textile. Paris 1791-early 20th century. Maker's: PALMA (cabinetmaker), CHARPENAT Jean-Pierre (goldsmith), HÉNIN & Cie (silversmith), TAFFOIREAU H (goldsmith), Manufacture d'Outrequin de Montarcy. Inv. 08770046299. Flame mahogany casket of engraved copper decoration, composed of 72 pieces including paraphernalia for serving light meals, writing, sewing, toilette, etc.