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Understanding
Christofle & Puiforcat
Silver plate, solid silver, hallmarks and historic patterns — distinguishing Christofle from Puiforcat before composing a table.
Christofle and Puiforcat embody two complementary traditions. Christofle transformed the art of the table in the nineteenth century through electroplating, which made durable, refined silver-plated metal possible. Puiforcat, rooted in cutlery and solid silver, became one of the leading names in high Art Deco silverwork during the twentieth century.
01
Silver plate or solid silver?
Silver plate is a base metal covered with a layer of silver; its quality depends on manufacture, thickness of the deposit and wear. Solid silver is an alloy with a high silver content, controlled by statutory hallmarks and generally heavier. Both can be remarkable, but they are valued according to different criteria.
02
Reading hallmarks and makers’ marks
Hallmarks help identify the silversmith, material and sometimes period. Christofle has its own makers’ marks and numbering systems; Puiforcat notably uses its emblematic penknife hallmark between the house initials. Marks should be photographed, but weight, construction, soldering and consistency of the pattern should also be examined.
03
Marly, Malmaison, Albi and Art Deco
Marly, listed by Christofle since 1897, draws on the rococo vocabulary of Louis XV. Malmaison, created in 1909, reinterprets the Empire style through palmettes and symmetry. Albi, designed in 1968, favours restrained lines inspired by Albi Cathedral. At Puiforcat, Jean Puiforcat established an architectural Art Deco style between the 1920s and 1940s, often associated with solid silver.
04
Assembling a set and preserving patina
A flatware service is assessed by the number of place settings, serving pieces, consistency of hallmarks and condition of the blades. Teapots, coffee pots, trays and candlesticks should be checked for dents, solder repairs, insulators and loss of silvering. Gentle cleaning is often sufficient: aggressive polishing can erase relief, thin the silver layer and remove part of the patina.
Key dates
1820In Paris, the workshop that would become Puiforcat moves from cutlery into solid silver and vermeil flatware.
1830–1842Charles Christofle establishes his house and later acquires patents for electroplating in silver and gold.
1897–1909Christofle launches two historic patterns: Marly and then Empire Malmaison, now known simply as Malmaison.
1920–1968Jean Puiforcat establishes his Art Deco silverwork; several decades later, Christofle creates the Albi pattern in 1968.
The gallery offers flatware services, tea services, trays and serving pieces by Christofle and Puiforcat, in both silver plate and solid silver.
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