Antique French Laguiole identification

B

burkefj

Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
19
I have a very small laguiole knife marked Salettes, with pigeon wing ivory handle, very small, about 2.5" long folded. It does not have the typical espalion marking most likely because the blade is so small..I was wondering if anyone knew the approx date that it would have come from? Mouche is forged but not decorated. I know there is a Rue Eugene Salettes in Espalion but don't know anything about the maker.

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Thanks

Frank
 
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Jolipapa Should have a pretty shrewd idea once he's seen this thread. The small size is unusual for a Lag, almost Lilliputian - so it could be another regional type?

My own guess would put it at early c20th.

Thanks,Will
 
I agree with Will that Jolipapa is our resident expert are you able to post pictures because that would be most helpful. If not and would want me to I would be happy to talk you through the process by visitor message. Good luck. :thumbup:
 
I don't know much of Salettes, except he was in Espalion, a little town in the Aveyron dept, not far from laguiole. He also made some friction folders (piémontais).
I'll submit it to my fellows in Thiers.

No idea for the Empire knives, except they may come from Chatellerault, once the city for top end knives.

5/X : back to Salettes, a picture of a 3 pieces ivory Lag was sent in 2009 by a certain "Uncle John"... But did not gather much answers. The picture has vanished since.
 
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Ok, I see Salettes mentioned in some historical references to early laguiole knife making along with Calmels and Pages, from what I've read the pigeon wing style came in between 1900-1910 or so but I don't know if that is correct. Anything will help.

Frank
 
Another ivory Salettes, this one stamped "Médaille d'argent" -Silver medal. Blade and forged fly are similar to yours. Silver medal awarded at the Marseilles national exhibition 1887.
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I did contact the museum in laguiole and they were nice enough to photocopy some info from a recent book on the laguiole knives by Christian Lemasson. From the exerpt: The Salettes shop was started in 1874 and the salettes family was inter-married/related to both the Pages and Calmels families which were the foundations of laguiole knife making. Apaprently Eugene Salettes could recognize good steel by eye, then a sample was forged to confirm quality. They continued to make their own knives until 1930 when fire destroyed their forge. After that they had knives made with their brand marking on them. Eugene Salettes died in 1965 and a niece operated the store up till the end of the 20th century. Photo from around 1920. I also found a commemorative edition made by Laguiole en Aubrac around 2013 in an online store in Georga of all places...I may have ordered one:)

Frank


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