{11 French Antique 1863 Christofle 4 Boules Knife Rests}

Here I can show you some true antique French Christofle knife rests. They date from 1863 and are called '4 Boules'. There were 11 of them available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.  An elegant way for protecting your fine table linens from getting soiled. These elegant French knife rests will for sure be an asset to a fine table setting for that special event. On December 2nd I have added another set of 8, see photo below others.

Image via Wikipedia (click link for sharper view).

Dine in style with something that was designed and made by Charles Christofle. Poor Charles died at the age of 58, only 5 years after Emperor Napoleon III appointed Charles Christofle official purveyor to the court.

Table Setting is with Seltmann Weiden Mirabell china and my Gero Zilmeta Menuet 528 flatware on a linen tablecloth with roses.

This Table Setting was on the balcony, al fresco.

Here you see all 11 knife rests together. Incredible beauties considering their age.

This image gives you a good idea about the '4 boules' pattern.

This is the 8 piece set of the same, with exact same antique hall marks!

This '4 boules' pattern is shown at the very top to the left on this antique catalog page.

 You can see the two hall marks on the knife rests.

 Here is a closeup of the hall marks.

 On my antique Christofle sugar sifter from 1862, the exact same hall mark is shown here. It is a lot easier to capture off a flat item.

The French Ministère de la Culture does show here the very same Christofle 4 boules knife rests at the musée Condé as being from 1863. You can click on the hyperlink for going there.

 It is very rare for finding such antique pieces. Only at Sur La Table I have seen such treasures. Usually they are snatched up very fast!

Sorry Sold out...

 My favorite book about Christofle (Memoire) by David Rosenberg.

  

Indeed, Christofle is still a symbol of luxury and elegance. Since its founding in the mid-19th century. Today as in the past, it has been gracing the tables of emperors, princes, or maharajas, in palaces, on board the Trans-Siberian Railway, Orient Express, or transatlantic ocean liners, or in contemporary restaurants, Christofle continues to make an impression. This great book is available at Amazon.com.

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