Cutlery - Carved Opinel Knife - Anthropomorphic Knife - Folk Art - France

Circa 1955
France

A Opinel n°9 knife with a handle entirely hand-carved in the spirit of French folk art.

The handle depicts a bearded craftsman holding a hammer and chisel, traditional attributes of the stonemason. The eyes are highlighted by small inlays of glass bead or black horn, enhancing the expressiveness of the face. The sculpture, deliberately naïve and sincere, bears witness to a genuine folk skill in which the utilitarian object becomes a medium for creation.

The knife retains its blade marked "Opinel France" as well as its "Virobloc breveté" rotating ferrule. The mechanism functions normally.

What makes this piece particularly touching is the approach of its author. The character probably evokes a craftsman or journeyman whose trade was intimately linked to stone. Through a few deft knife strokes, the owner has transformed a simple everyday tool into a personal work, charged with humanity.

The same spirit of sculpted canes, snuffboxes, folding boxes or shepherd's objects can be found in this work: a creation born of free time, memory and a look at one's own world.

Beautiful patina of use.

Closed length: 12 cm

Length open: 20.5 cm

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