Notes

These spoons belong to Christofle's Marly pattern, named after the Château de Marly, the more relaxed royal retreat Louis XIV built near Versailles as an escape from the rigid etiquette of formal court life. Christofle itself was founded in Paris in 1830 by Charles Christofle, who transformed the firm in 1842 by acquiring the French patents for silver and gold electroplating, a technique more durable and less harmful than earlier methods, which he held exclusively in France for fifteen years. The company quickly won royal favour, supplying a full silver service to King Louis Philippe I for the Château d'Eu, and went on to work for Napoleon III, whose vast silver epergne, shown at the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition, brought Christofle gold medals and international recognition. That legacy of quality and craftsmanship remains just as respected today, making Christofle pieces among the most sought-after names in antique and vintage silver-plated cutlery.