Christofle Silverware Authorized Dealer

“Simplicity is often the hallmark of beauty”

Christofle Flatware

Exceptional silversmith world since 1830

Founded in 1830, Christofle is the most renowned name in French flatware.  Whether contemporary or classic, whether its contours are rounded or architectural,  Christofle flatware is a luxury lifestyle brand manufactured to exacting standards. Every piece of Christofle silverware, produced at its workshops in Yainville in Normandy, must pass through 52 people, an impressive process known as “100 hands.”

Christofle Tableware

Christofle Dinnerware

Christofle Jewellery

Christofle Silverware Story

The story of the famous French brand, whose name evokes the elegance of bygone days and the innovative design of modern times, started in 1830 with Charles Christofle. Charles the humble son of a silk merchant managed to transform a small Parisian jeweller workshop into an international enterprise. Rare materials were crafted into stunning shapes producing generation after generation “Precious Living Treasures”.

Christofle & the time of Emperor Napoleon III

During the time of Emperor Napoleon III, Charles Christofle earned the title ‘Fournisseur de l’Etat’ and decorated places like the Elysée Palace, the Tuileries Palace and the Chateaux Compiègne and Saint-Cloud. He became the country’s first official exporter and was also the first person to stamp the company signature on his products. Indeed the stylized coat of arms and logo added an exclusive and recognizable elegant touch to each item and built the confidence and loyalty in clients.

Once he gained important commissions from Emperor Napoleon III of France, Sultan Abdulaziz of the Ottoman Empire and later Maximilian of Mexico soon aristocracy and bourgeoisie became avid consumers of Christofle Silverware and Tableware.

Brilliant Moves of Charles Christofle

His most brilliant move was to gain between 1842 and 1844 the patents of an electrolytic technique and a new moulding technique necessary to build a technologically advanced manufacturing plant for plated goods. He also understood the importance of employing not only skilled craftsmen but also talented artists, designers and sculptors throughout the different historical phase so as to keep up with the revolutionizing of styles and tastes. Soon the silver plated items were flanked by solid silver ware and still today adorn our elegant table tops.

Christofle Tradition Through Generations

The Christofle  tradition was carried on by Charles’ Christofle son Paul and  his nephew Henri Bouilhet who created together fine works in Second Empire, Japanesque, Orientalist, Rococo Revival and Art Nouveau Styles. One of their greatest innovation was the creation of the Christofle Gallia Line with the use of a new alloy, similar to pewter but more resistant, suitable for casting and less expensive to manufacture and plate.

After the devastating political and economic effects of the Post World War I Tony Bouilhet, great-grandnephew of Charles, inherited the reins of the business in 1932 and together with his wife, Carla Borletti, and her wealthy Milanese industrialist family they re-launched the Christofle Maison. Once again the importance of commissioning designs from some of the most gifted designers, artists and architects of the 20^th century was paramount to Christofle’s silverware project.

Christofle: “Unfolding Symbol of Silversmith Luxury and Elegance for Centuries”

Today Christofle is in the hands of the family’s fifth generation, purveyors of fine design and superior quality elegant tableware. Christofle’s product lines include silver picture frames, crystal vases and glassware, porcelain dinnerware, silver jewelry, holloware and sterling silver flatware. Christofle equipped the Ritz in 1898, the Normandy transatlantic steamship in 1935 and in 1970 it supplied all the silverware for France’s presidential jet. Meanwhile, the company participated in all of the world’s major arts and decoration fairs including ground-breaking international fairs in Paris, London, Vienna and Chicago. Many Christofle creations, all considered to be objects of fine art, are now on show in decorative arts museums across the world: Paris, London, Berlin, New York, Saint-Petersburg.

Christofle sells its high end tableware worldwide through 75 Pavillon Christofle retail stores and over 400 department stores and specialty shops.

Christofle Now

The Christofle company is now chaired by Maurizio Borletti of the family’s Italian wing. But in principle nothing has changed. The company continues to create for its clients a wide variety of products from gold and silver tableware and dining table accessories to decorative pieces of silver, crystal and porcelain. For those who want something even more special, the company has developed the first Haute Orfevrerie collection, the synonym for Haute-Couture in the dictionary of silverware.

The story of Christofle’s achievements continues to unfold.