HISTORY
Yet another "special" item that we have been requested to seek a new home for by our extended family.
While our family (my wife in particular) likes a nice piece of chinaware, we did have a small number of Silverware/Silver plated items but upon being asked by extended family to "find new homes for these will you, dear?" I have been forced to undertake quite a bit of research. I have come to realize that there is a LOT of people online who offer quality products and either their descriptions are "not quite right" or the asking prices are ludicrous ... for example take a look at one advertisement I found online HERE ... my goodness, A$1400 for the set and "Sterling Silver/Crystal???" I am not so convinced of that and I can clearly see oxidisation "pits" in the photographs, those shakers are not in great shape!
While Christofle products could be considered expensive, even contemporary brand new Salt & Pepper shakers do not cost that much!
This advertisement tries to avoid both of these pitfalls ...
Why is this Salt & Pepper shaker set special?
The French silversmith Christofle is a name celebrated for very high quality Gold and Silver products in the style of French elegance. Founded by Charles Christofle in 1830 with notable acquisitions of other esteemed Silversmith's during the years, particularly that of Cardeilhac in 1950. Cardeilhac were makers of fine precious metal items to both Louis-Phillipe & Napoleon III royalty. The original CC makers mark was replaced in later years by the OC mark, which represents Orfèvre Christofle. After all these years, over 195 in fact, Christofle's is STILL going strong with their extensive product range of modern "French Classic" styling of their offerings but WARNING! by all means take a good look around their website but you will need very deep pockets for many of their items - high quality does not come cheap!
Unlike the "other" Christofle Salt & Pepper shakers (boxed) that we have advertised, this set is the much more familiar "everyday size" shakers and more contemporary in design, still elegant but contemporary.
Let's down to the description ...
CHRISTOFLE - Salt & Pepper Shaker Set (2)
Viva la France! Designed and made in France
Circa 1980's ~ 1990's in my estimation. These are not a current design on the Christofle website but have a very contemporary design while maintaining the signature Christofle elegance. The glass body looks very similar to a current design, the Malmaison (which incidently would set you back around A$1300 !!!) take a look HERE
This Salt & Pepper Shaker Set has a bulbous glass body with fluted sides. Although I have seen some folk state these are crystal glass, I can see no evident of that - it looks and feels (and sounds) like heavy cut glass.
The underside of the glass has the signature impression CHRISTOFLE & ORFEVRERIE. There are no other markings or numerals on the underside impression.
Silver Plated (as evidenced by the Chess Knight stamping on the top cap (side)
The shakers dimensions are ...
72mm (2.8") height x 49mm (1.95") diameter at the widest point of the bulbous glass body.
The weight of each shaker is 81g, with the Silver plated top cap being 17g
This screw on top cap is surprisingly heavy so I must assume that the base metal is likely to be Copper.
The threaded section of the glass body has a diameter of 22.75mm
NOTE: Even if this Salt & Pepper Shaker Set was not quite what you were looking for, because the top cap unscrews from the threaded glass body, either piece could be used with another Salt & Pepper shaker set from Christofle (I think, you may need to double check the diameter of your own glass body neck area where the thread is located)
In French dining, adding condiments at the "tea table" is common and using small multiple top cap holes allows for personal adjustment without overwhelming the dish - none of those "Woopsie, I think I just dumped a load of Salt on my Snail!"
Both shakers have seven holes but the Pepper shaker top cap has slightly smaller diameter holes - see one of the photographs.
HALLMARKS
As you would expect, the hallmark is clearly visible (although very very small) on the side of the top caps. I have included a closeup photograph of this stamping. The Hallmark "Balance Scale" with O C to either side of the balance is to the left of the central text CHRISTOFLE FRANCE and the "Chess Knight" also with O C to either side, is to the right of this text.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
The extended family members who asked me to find new owners for these obviously looked after these!
USED
CLEAN
The screw on top caps are in great condition, in fact they are stunning!
Absolutely no marks (oxidisation pitting or other)
NO scratching of any significance, only normal cloth cleaning scratches which are only visible under a magnifying glass - these shakers look truly gorgeous.
NO damage (including scratching) to the glass body and certainly nothing is amiss around the top thread.
For the collector of the wonderful Christofle Silver products, this is an amazing example of their work and it will not "break the bank" - elegance & style "on the cheap" (my wife said that!)
Of course, so that no damage is done to these while they wait to new homes (and when they are shipped), they have been separately safely packed in bubble wrap and then again wrapped in bubble wrap as the set. This set has then been placed into a sealed clear plastic packet to assist in reducing the gradual oxidisation that occurs with Silver based products.
