These knives are nearly identical to the set that James Monroe ordered for the White House in 1817. The Metropolitan Museum also owns a set of knives by this maker, Francois Charles Gavet, of similar form, but with silver handles. The small inlaid shields, engraved with a monogram, appear to be gold. The lettering style of the monogram leads us to believe that they may have been engraved at a later date. All eight knives are miraculously well preserved.
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