Christofle Meat Trolley from Henri Soulé's Le Pavillon

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Christofle Meat Trolley from Henri Soulé's Le Pavillon

About the Item

This extraordinary silverplate meat carving trolley was crafted in the 1940s by the prestigious firm Christofle & Cie for New York City’s premier restaurant of the day, Le Pavillon. The top of the shiny domed lid is emblazoned with the restaurant's name and marked with an artful seal. The trolley makes an impressive display thanks to its large, elegant form resting upon a wheeled mahogany base. Raise the lid of the trolley to reveal a generous serving area with wells for au jus and other sauces. The thick cutting surface can also be removed to reveal two additional serving wells. A folding wine bottle holder and tray to place serving utensils are both within easy reach on the base. Opened in 1941, Le Pavillon was heralded for bringing elevated French food and sophistication to New York City. Several would-be notable chefs, including a young Jacques Pépin, spent time in the kitchen. Everyone from the Kennedys, Astors and Vanderbilts to the Windsors and Marilyn Monroe came to Le Pavillon to dine on French fare and see and be seen. However, the largest presence in the room was undoubtedly the restaurant’s proprietor Henri Soulé. Arguably the original celebrity restauranteur, Soulé had a larger-than-life personality and helmed the restaurant like a symphony maestro. In fact, photos capture Soulé standing tableside serving from a smaller meat trolley. The overwhelming grandeur and artful engraving of the present meat trolley is a testament to the restaurant’s lasting legacy of elegance and refinement. Based in Paris, Christofle has been manufacturing high-quality luxury items since 1830. Christofle silver has graced the tables of European and Asian nobility for decades, and is the tableware of choice on such luxury transportation as the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Innovative and revolutionary, the Christofle name is synonymous with elegance and style. circa 1940 43 1/4" high by 34 1/2" wide by 23 5/8" deep.

Creator:
Christofle (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 43.25 in (109.86 cm)Width: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Depth: 23.63 in (60.03 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Silver Plate
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1940
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 31-66121stDibs: LU891134367102

Shop All Christofle

Christofle

Although he started his career as a jeweler in 1830 — after apprenticing with his copper jeweler brother-in-law years earlier — Charles Christofle (1805–63) recognized that Second Empire France had an untapped audience for luxury silverware and tableware.

Gold and silver gilt had been the high-end standard in the 18th century, yet society after the Industrial Revolution demanded a more affordable, but still refined, approach. So in the 1840s, Christofle cornered the market on electrolytic gilding and silver plating, dominating the hold on patents in the country for over a decade. His work soon attracted the attention of Louis-Philippe I and then Napoleon III, under whom he was named Fournisseur de l’Empereur, cementing the prestige of his brand.

While Christofle created decadent centerpieces and tableware for the French palaces — as well as prominent clients like the Orient Express — the company’s electroplating of silverware that was far less expensive than that made by silversmiths attained widespread popularity. At a time when many who could not afford gold or silver still used wooden utensils, Christofle was a game changer for at-home dining. An appearance at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago furthered the company’s reach to American consumers who would soon rival the manufacturer’s European clientele.

The 20th century saw Christofle adapting to changing tastes in its offerings, such as the Aria collection, which debuted in 1985 with column-like lines on its flatware designed by Bernard Yot, and the playful egg-shaped silverware container introduced in 2015 that opens to reveal a full flatware set. The company also now sells barware, home accessories and even jewelry, harkening back to its roots. Now almost two centuries old, Christofle maintains its reputation as a leading flatware and silverware company under the ownership of the Chalhoub group, its utensils gracing tables in homes, hotels and restaurants all over the world.

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