Set Of 24 Japanese Knives In Patinated And Gilded Bronze, Meiji Period – Aucoc Aîné Case

A rare and beautiful set of twenty-four Japanese knives, comprising two sets of twelve matching pieces, preserved in their antique case bearing the mark of the firm Aucoc Aîné, 6 rue de la Paix, Paris.

The knives feature flat, rectangular handles made of patinated copper alloy and adorned with rich relief decorations accented with metals of various colors, notably gold.

The set consists of twelve different designs, each repeated twice, thus forming twelve matching pairs. The motifs, directly inspired by Japanese iconography, depict animals, figures, bamboo, foliage, flowers, traditional objects, and fantastical creatures. Some designs are particularly spectacular, such as the tiger accompanied by a dragon or the scenes featuring animals and plants.

The finely crafted backgrounds, along with the use of polychrome metals and gold highlights, evoke the Japanese techniques used on kozuka-type sword fittings, although the handles cannot be identified with certainty as reused antique kozuka.

The twenty-four knives clearly form a cohesive set designed from the outset, likely in Japan during the Meiji era, in the last quarter of the 19th century, presumably for the Western market.

One of the two sets features gilded blades, while the other is fitted with polished steel blades, reinforcing the idea of a dual-purpose set, likely intended for the dinner table and for dessert or fruit.

The case, covered in leather and lined with red velvet, bears the following gilded inscription on the inside:

“L. Aucoc Aîné – 6 rue de la Paix – Paris”

The Aucoc Aîné firm, located on Rue de la Paix, was among the leading Parisian houses specializing in jewelry, silverware, and luxury goods in the 19th century.

However, since the knives themselves bear no Aucoc signature or mark, caution is warranted regarding their attribution. The case is nonetheless an important piece of provenance evidence and suggests that this set may have been marketed or assembled for the Aucoc Aîné firm, though it cannot be confirmed that the knives were directly manufactured by the firm.

Japanese work, Meiji period, circa 1880–1900.

24 knives in total, or 12 pairs with different decorations.
Total length of the large knives: 24.8 cm.

A beautiful set in the Japonism style, blending Japanese metalwork with late 19th-century Parisian taste

Shipping: 18 euros within France, 35 euros within the EU, and 80 euros to the rest of the world.