12 Silver-Plated Knife-Rests in the Shape of Animals, Edouard Marcel Sandoz

Born in Basle, educated in Switzerland, Edouard Marcel Sandoz worked mainly in Paris, where he settled in 1908. A sculptor of men and of animals, he expressed himself in bronze, in ceramic, and through the direct cutting of stone. A painter of flowers and of landscapes, he was also an unflagging producer of sketches and water-colours. His motto : “ In art, one has to love everything : nature, science, one's fellow man… ” His defining characteristics : intellectual curiosity and technical discipline. His freedom of expression was grounded in mastery of classical and traditional techniques, his knowledge of materials, the constant search for new tools, the opening up of new artistic territories, and the study and profound understanding of his subject-matter. His very personal style, developed in the course of a long career, bears the imprint of the Art Nouveau period, in which he was a forceful presence.The predominance of animalism in his sculptural work incited him to found the French Society of Animalists in 1933. His commitment to the service of his fellow artists led him to preside over the Baron Taylor Association for more than thirty years, to found the Charitable Society for Children of Artists, and to contribute to the creation of the Cité des Arts in Paris. In recognition of his talents and achievements, France elected him a Member of the Academy of Fine Arts, and appointed him to the rank of Commander both of the Legion of Honour and of the Order of Arts and Letters.

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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