Benjamin Rabier 12 Knife Rests With Box Fables De La Fontaine

In their original box, set of twelve silver-plated knife rests, all different, each signed hollow on the base "Benjamin Rabier" and bearing the goldsmith's mark, representing the animals of La Fontaine's Fables, including: The Grasshopper and the Ant The Crow and the Fox The Frog who wants to be as big as the Ox The Wolf and the Dog The Wolf and the Lamb The Fox and the Stork The Wolf and the Stork The Rat who retired from the world The Cat, the Weasel and the little Rabbit The Monkey and the Cat The two Rats and the Egg Of different lengths, between 8 cm and 10 cm, and 2.5 cm wide. All parts are in good condition; Only one, visible in the last photo (The Two Rats and the egg) has some silvering wear, mainly on its base. The box is tired, see the photo. Benjamin Rabier was born in December 1864 in La Roche-sur-Yon and died in October 1939. Very famous French author and illustrator of comic strips, he owes his fame in particular to his drawings of the Laughing Cow, as well as his duck Gédéon . He showed aptitude for illustration very early on, but had to interrupt his studies to work (in the army, as an accountant, etc.). His drawings began to be published in certain French magazines from 1889 (La Chronique Amusante, Gil Blas Illustré...) but also in Great Britain and the United States, where he achieved greater success. In 1903, he embarked on illustration for children, integrating La Jeunesse illustrée, the first modern illustrated book intended for a young audience. He stands out for his graphic innovations, by playing on the size of the thumbnails or even by removing the text. Also considered the greatest animal designer in Europe, he published a journal, Histoire comique et naturelle des Animaux. It was not until 1906 that he began his work in animation and advertising design.