Neoclassical Louis XVI Style Silver-Plated Sugar Bowl by Christofle
Hollowware (Sugar Bowl / Open Sugar) · Christofle (Orfèvrerie Christofle), founded in Paris in 1830 by Charles Christofle. Renowned for pioneering electroplating in France, the brand became a royal purveyor to King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III.
Pattern: Louis XVI / Malmaison Style, characterized by laurel wreaths, ribbon bows, and fluted lobed bodies. Production status: Specific variations of this motif are discontinued, though Malmaison remains a flagship live collection.
Type
Hollowware (Sugar Bowl / Open Sugar)
Maker
Christofle (Orfèvrerie Christofle), founded in Paris in 1830 by Charles Christofle. Renowned for pioneering electroplating in France, the brand became a royal purveyor to King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III.
Material
Silver Plate (Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS or 'Métal Blanc'). The high-quality base metal is electroplated with a substantial layer of pure silver, often referred to in France as 'Argenté'.
Dimensions
Estimated height 8-10 cm, width across handles 14-16 cm. Weight estimated between 250-350 grams. This is an 'individual' or 'standard table' size sugar bowl.
Description
An elegant French silver-plated sugar bowl featuring the refined restraint of the Neoclassical revival. The piece showcases a lobed, melon-form body that provides a play of light, accented by a central beribboned medallion typical of the Louis XVI style. While lacking its lid, the piece retains its dignified presence as a functional table accessory or a small planter/display piece.
Key Features
Lobed fluting of the body; Louis XVI ribbon-and-wreath (nœud) engraving; distinctive double-handled form; prominent vacant cartouche for personalization.
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (Electroplated Nickel Silver - EPNS or 'Métal Blanc'). The high-quality base metal is electroplated with a substantial layer of pure silver, often referred to in France as 'Argenté'.
Finish & Decoration
Polished silver finish with heavy iridescent tarnish. Features bright-cut style machine engraving including a center oval cartouche (vacant) surrounded by a laurel wreath and bow (nœud Louis XVI). The body is melon-lobed or fluted.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Likely bears the Christofle 'OC' (Orfèvrerie Christofle) scales mark with a bee or knight, and a numerical stamp (such as 12, 18, or 24) representing the grams of silver used in the plating process. Usually located on the underside.
Construction Details
Industrial high-craft production; the body is press-formed/spun with machine-engraved detail. Handles are likely cast white metal and hard-soldered to the main body.
Functional Features
Open top design (missing a lid or intended as an open sugar), twin C-scroll handles for balanced lifting, and a stable lobed base.
Handle & Grip Details
Symmetric C-scroll handles with decorative spurs at the bottom terminal. Cast silver-plated base metal, soldered securely to the fluted shoulders of the vessel.
Craftsmanship Details
High-quality industrial craftsmanship. The soldering of the handles is nearly seamless, and the depth of the fluting shows a high degree of control in the metal-forming process.
Authentication Indicators
The crispness of the lobed fluting and the specific stylistic execution of the ribbon bows are hallmarks of Christofle's 19th-century output. Patina is consistent with aged silver plate.
Origin & Manufacturing
Made in France, likely at the Saint-Denis factory near Paris. Christofle is the definitive name in French silver-plating tradition.
Era & Period
Belle Époque / Late 19th Century (c. 1880-1910). The design utilizes Louis XVI Neoclassical motifs (ribbons and wreaths) which were highly popular during this French revivalist period.
Age Estimate
Circa 1890-1915. The style of engraving and handle form are consistent with catalogs from the turn of the century.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 19th-century emergence of the middle class being able to afford 'luxury' items that mimicked solid silver, popularized by the dining etiquette of the French Second Empire.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. There is significant 'rainbow' tarnish (sulfide buildup). Minor surface scratches and pitting visible on the handles. No major dents observed, but the absence of a lid reduces the grade from Very Good.
Value Estimate
$40 - $85 USD. Value is limited by the plating (rather than solid silver), the missing lid, and the heavy tarnish, though the Christofle brand provides a baseline desirability.
Care & Maintenance
Recommended cleaning with a gentle foam like Wright's Silver Cream. Avoid abrasive dips which can strip the thin silver plating. Store in a Pacific Silvercloth bag to prevent the heavy tarnish seen in the photo.
Similar Pieces
Elkington & Co. Neoclassical sugar bowls (English equivalent); Gorham 'Plymouth' pattern (American equivalent with similar fluting); Christofle Malmaison (modern solid-silver successor).
Interesting Facts
Christofle bought the patents for electroplating from Elkington in England in the 1840s and leveraged them to become the exclusive supplier of silverware to the French imperial court.