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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Christofle
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| Author | Topic: Christofle |
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haunted Posts: 3 |
posted 08-16-2006 02:20 PM
  
[26-1171] Hello, Can someone help me Identify this Christofle teapot, I would like to know if its solid silver or plated? and how old is it? Regards IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 08-16-2006 11:52 PM
It's definitely silver plate. Christofle is a French company. And the French are especially careful about correct silver marks. These marks aren't part of their system. Christofle, I believe, is still in business, so you may be able to date your teapot through them. Good luck! [This message has been edited by bascall (edited 08-16-2006).] IP: Logged |
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haunted Posts: 3 |
posted 08-17-2006 08:48 AM
Thanks for the info! I will ask at the Christofle website. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 08-17-2006 09:13 AM
Isn't Christofle a little like Rogers Bros in that the majority of their output is plated but that they will make special order sterling items? IP: Logged |
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Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 08-17-2006 09:47 AM
The mark on your teapot that will help you to date your item is the one in the square. Your photo looks blurry on my monitor, so I can't see the mark clearly. If the initials are CC, then the item was made between 1862 and 1935. If the initials are OC, then the object was made after 1935. The teapot is definitely silverplate. Christofle might be able to tell you how long your teapot was in production by the product number, which could help you to narrow the date further. Christofle is a silverplate manufacturer, but as Vathek notes will make sterling silver by special order. The company passed out of the Christofle family's hands recently and has been struggling to stay alive. If you are ever in the Paris region it is worthwhile to visit the museum located at the Christofle factory. Go while it is still there! IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 08-17-2006 10:25 AM
Much of what Christofle produces is, and the firm is more known for, silver plate, so in that respect, they resemble Rogers Bros to some degree. Unlike Rogers, though, "Christofle plate" has a certain cachet because the goods are well produced and finely finished. Much better quality than a lot of sterling produced today. Their wares are very expensive. Silver plated flatware is comparable in price to most other companies' sterling, and Christofle sterling flat silver can surpass $1500 per place setting. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 08-17-2006 02:53 PM
Christofle also shares something else with Rogers, or IS: a tendency to bring things back with original marks. Some years ago, I saw they had put out a fabulous camel shaped teapot with the old marks. And yes, there is Christofle silver, probably not sterling, in a French grade. IP: Logged |
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haunted Posts: 3 |
posted 08-17-2006 03:57 PM
Thanks very much indeed to everyone for the info! on closer inspection I see the teapot is actualy marked CC so must be 1862 - 1935- 73 years is quite a span but at least I know a bit more about it. I also found out the other mark (33)shows the depth of silver plate, maybe in microns? Shame about the images!. I really cant see how a link to an image can cause any problems? I rather like large images.. much more detail can be seen. and I did crop them down to a quarter of the original size of 7.2 Mega pixels. Regards IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 08-17-2006 04:49 PM
Christofle's solid silver wares are now made from .925 sterling standard. IP: Logged |
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Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 08-17-2006 07:22 PM
Alas, since 1973 in conformity with European Community standards, all French silver is now .925 grade. The Minerva head mark looks the same except that the "1" indicating first standard (now .925 instead of .950) is behind her neck rather than by her forehead and there is a date letter under her chin. The dates go by 10 year period beginning with A for 1973-1982. Christofle did not have silver making capacity until the early 1950's. Prior to then they subcontracted their silver orders to Cardeilhac until they bought out that firm. With the purchase they acquired all Cardeilhac's designs and many of these have been incorporated into the various Christofle lines. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 08-21-2006 05:42 PM
I was in Paris a few years ago and one afternoon as I was window shopping on the rue de Passy I came to silverware shop and saw a set of beautiful flatware in the window. It was a Christofle shop (they call them Pavillions). I went in and found the pattern was Talisman which has a blue enamel inlay on the handles, but I was floored when they told me the price and that it was silverplate. It was more expensive than sterling by other high end makers. I think the reason they are struggling is they are just not at all competitive in their pricing. They make nice things, but they need to be realistic in understanding the market place in that they have all but priced themselves out of it. By the way, in addition to flatware in sterling and silverplate, they also make stainless (also very pricey). IP: Logged |
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