MARK OF CHRISTOFLE, PARIS, CIRCA 1880

Details

A FRENCH SILVER-PLATED SEVENTEEN PIECES TABLE SURTOUT
MARK OF CHRISTOFLE, PARIS, CIRCA 1880
Comprising:
A large oval corbeille or jardinière, on four branch feet, applied in centre on each side with two putti; the handles formed of a putto holding a bird; the cut crystal bowl with pie-crust rim and etched in centre with a coronet;
A pair of smaller corbeilles or jardinières (model 1869), en suite with above, applied in centre on each side with cluster of apple on leaves, the cut crystal bowl with pie-crust rim;
Four six-light candelabra (model 1694), each on triangular base, formed of tree branches applied with cluster of apples on leaves;
A pair of porte-cornets or flower and fruit stands (model 1881), each on triangular base formed of tree branches applied with cluster of figs, apples and hazelnut on leaves, the cut-crystal dishes and vases with pie-crust rim;
A pair of coupes à fruits or fruit stands (model 1927), en suite with above;
A pair of compotiers (model 1871), each on triangular base formed of tree branches applied with cluster of hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts on leaves, the cut-crystal dishes with pie-crust rim;
A pair of compotiers ('enfant Bouret' model 1882), each on circular base applied with flower sprays, the stem formed of a putto seated on rocky ground and blowing a cornucopia holding a cut-crystal dish with pie-crust rim; engraved on medallion applied on base with cypher IS;
A pair of pied d'assiette (smaller compotiers) ('enfant Bouret', model 1878), en suite with above, each with stem formed of a putto lying on its back and holding a cut-crystal dish with pie-crust rim; one engraved on medallion applied on base with cypher EWC;
each marked on underside and with CHRISTOFLE and workshop numbers
the large corbeille 26 in. ( 66 cm.) long;
the pair of corbeilles 21 ¹/₄ in. (54 cm.) long;
the candelabra 25 ¹/₂ in. (64 cm.) high;
the porte-cornets 22 ¹/₂ in. (57 cm.) high;
the coupes a fruits 12 ³/₄ in. (32.5 cm.) high;
the compotiers 9 in. (23 cm.) high;
the compotiers enfant Bouret 11 ¹/₈ in. (28 cm.) high;
the pied d'assiette 8 in. (20 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired in 2001.

Literature

Christofle & Cie Orfèvres, Orfèvrerie argentée par les procédés Electrochimiques, Catalogue 1883-1891, Paris, 2004, p. 130,132 and 133.

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Isabelle Cartier-Stone Specialist

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Lot Essay

Maison Christofle needs no introduction as its reputation has far exceeded time and frontiers. The company was founded by Charles Christofle in 1830 and the purchase in 1842 of the patents for electrolytic silver and gold plating invented by Henri de Ruolz was a turning point for the company who went on to specialise in the manufacture of silver-plated pieces.
Christofle gained national and international recognition, creating versatile and impressive garniture and surtout which could be combined in multiple ways to accommodate a table of four guests to four thousand if necessary!

The pieces composing this surtout are part of the Pomme d'Api service. The term may refer to a variety of apples featured in the decoration but could also be a reference to an operetta by Jacques Offenback written in 1873 and which was a huge success and was performed until 1900.

This service was a favourite of Christofle's clientele and comprises different styles of stands, bowls and candelabra. Following on Christofle's innovative approach to 'Les Arts de la Table', pieces from different services could be combined for maximum effect as described in Christofle's Catalogue of 1883-1891; in this instance, the ensemble also include pieces from the Enfant Bouret model designed after model by the sculptor Euthrope Bouret (1833-1906).