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Musée
Bouilhet-Christofle--
Visit a
moment of history
Maison Française, a French decorating magazine, ran an article about
l'art de la table, its history and the history of the tableware that is
part of this art. Among the well-known luxury names was
Christofle.
Aware that
Christofle had a plant just on the outskirts of Paris, my
procrastination was punished when I learned that 2005 was the closing of
the last of its manufacturing workshops in Saint-Denis.
Although the workshops have moved, the samples of this labor
from the past 200 years of
creations are still worth a visit.
On display is a beautiful collection of over 2,000 pieces in
chronological order that represent “only one quality, the best”,
according to
Christofle.
The prestige that the name evokes is evident from the serving pieces
dating from the 1800s and King Louis-Philippe to Napoléon III to the
luxury ocean liner Normandie and the Concorde.
My favorites
Some cutlery sets are
shown without a knife – Mme Anne Gros (museum curator) explained that
Christofle only manufactured knives for the fish course as well as the
handles for the dinner knives. The dinner knife blades came from another
manufacturer.
With modern times and "social
change in the 20th century", fewer pieces are
ordered by clients now. Where a silver set might consist of a hundred
pieces at one time or a place setting for 12, the order of the day is
now 6 or 8 place settings.
I thought the
Bolide table lighter was quite interesting. It is supposedly a
one-of-a-kind silver cigar lighter crafted in the shape of a race car
with driver, made by American artist Jean-Michel Folon (1930-2005) for a
Saudi billionaire.
The museum has one in its display case
but another will
go up for
auction in December 2006.
In the first display case as you enter
the museum is an
original box of silver filigree (Bonbonnière).
I was fascinated by this because it
shows how intricate the silver work was compared to its evolution to a
modern, sleek styling.
Trays
and other serving pieces modeled on leaves and lily pads – literally!
caught my attention. An actual leaf was used to create the impressions
during the electroplating process.
Overview
The tour begins with each of the company's presidents presented with an
artistic example of a piece produced during their tenure.
The first part of the museum reflects the historical evolution between
1830-1880.
The second part is a panorama of Christofle creations up to World War I.
The third section from 1900 to 2000 traverses the Art Deco period,
Dianderie (metalwork that originated at Dinant, Belgium), luxury
liners and contemporary styling.
Display cases show the techniques of the silversmith process with
explanations and examples of electroplating, cloisonné enamel,
guillochage (fine-engraving, called guilloche).
Tours
You can take the museum tour on your own; or the
Saint-Denis tourist
office (e-mail
address) offers tours twice a season. Private tours are available if you
are a member of
WICE.
Individual tours
For the
individual tour, a booklet with brief descriptions is available in
English at the front desk as well as a workbook for children between 9
and 12.
This workbook entitled “Chris shows you around the Museum Bouilhet-Christofle”
may be for children, but ask for it even if you are over 12.
Some of the questions and tasks contained in the hand out are really for
children.
However, if you come to this exhibit on your own and are unfamiliar with
the manufacture and history of these products, the hand out helps you
focus on certain ideas and highlights specific items so your are not
overwhelmed by all there is to see.
Consider the questions asked in the handout:
1. What is silverware?
2. Why is the museum called Bouilhet-Christofle? How does one eat like a
king?
3. Can you see objects in the museum that you use every day?
4. How are these object made? Choose the objects to make a tray.
5. Did objects have the same style before?
Tourist office tours
Check the
Saint-Denis tourist office website for the next dates to discover the
museum with a guide.
As an example, two guided visits were available in the autumn, a Friday
in October and another in December at 2:30 p.m. The cost is 6 euros,
plus the admission to the museum (5 euros).
In order to get the most out of your visit, I recommend a guide because of the anecdotes and
explanations. Otherwise, the general explanations are also good.
Private tours
At the present
time, WICE is the only organization that I know of that gives
tours as well; however, you have to be a member.
Another possibility could be from the Paris tourist office list of
guides.
History
Founded in 1830 by the jeweler Charles Christofle the museum is located along
the Saint-Denis canal and continues a long tradition of manufacturing in this town.
Gold and silver work was not new to
Saint-Denis when
Christofle opened its factory here.
Already in 635,
Saint Eloi
founded (you might say) the first royal manufacturing company.
Saint Eloi was a “goldsmith at the courts of King
Clotar 11 and Dagobert 1. Although there is no certain attribution, some
pieces of goldsmith’s work said to have been made by the saint,
particularly a chalice which disappeared during the French Revolution,
are known from drawings.”
The Christofle dynasty
"Born in 1805 to a family of small industrialists, an
apprentice at the age of 15 to his brother-in-law, a jeweler in Paris,
Charles Christofle developed rapidly the family jewelry business.
In 1839, he was at the head of the company of more than
50 employees.
In 1842, his interest was directed toward innovative
technologies that would make his fortune: gold and silver plating with
electrical current.
The beginning of the industrial revolution raised the
importance of the middle class as a ruling class (the bourgeoisie).
They took to a this new type silver work, notably because it was less
expensive than pure silver.
Louis-Philippe and
Napoléon III put in their orders for
table settings. The house of Christofle acquired the title of
silversmith to the King and furnisher to the emperor.
With the death in 1863 of Charles, his nephew,
Henri Bouilhet, a chemical engineer and artist of renown expanded production
with the tools to become a complete industry controlling all stages of
production.
The factory at Saint-Denis, constructed in 1876 to treat
the raw material from New Caledonia, became in 1878, the manufacturer of
the most modern place settings of its time.
The First World War and then the monetary crisis of 1929 were
financially difficult in the history of the company. The factories in
Karlsruhe, Buenos Aires and Milan closed.
In 1930, Tony Bouilhet decided to combine all of the
company’s activities under one roof.
After the Second World War, Christofle was once again
prosperous: branches opened in Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Germany and the
United States. The brand earned a worldwide reputation.
The symbol of this growth lead to the construction of a
new factory in Normandy devoted to manufacturing of place settings.
The new aim was in the luxury market. Since 1933, the
company has diversified to cover all of the areas in the arts de la
table: glassware and crystal, porcelain, linens, gifts, etc." –
translated from the
city of Saint-Denis website.
"Christofle entered the new century in good economic
health and with strong growth prospects. In 2001, the company
commissioned a new line of designs from famed Parisian fashion leader
Christian Dior.... After 170 years and a place in world history,
Christofle seemed to have recaptured its youth." --
Encyclopedia of Company Histories
In light of
its new diversity, some of the practical gifts now include
candelabras, jewelry and
a USB holder.
Directions
Take line 13
to the Saint-Denis Porte de Paris stop in the direction of Saint-Denis
Université. The metro forks at la Fourche. (Do not take the direction
Asnières.)
From the Hôtel
de Ville, for example, the ride takes 30 minutes.
At Saint-Denis
Porte de Paris, take sortie no. 3, Marcel Sembat. (map)
It is a
five-minute walk.
You will be
walking toward the Saint-Denis canal. Pass the clinique and
Leader Price.
Once over the
bridge continue to the crosswalk and you will be facing "Christofle".
Practical
details
Bouilhet-Christofle
Museum
112, rue
Ambroise Croizat
93200
Saint-Denis
Telephone: 01
49 22 40 40
Fax: 01 48 09
33 65
Metro: Line
13, Saint-Denis Porte de Paris station
Exit: Marcel
Sembat
RER: Line D,
Saint-Denis station
Open: Monday
to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed holidays
Admission: 5
euros
Christofle
in Paris
Paris Royal
9, rue Royale
75008
Telephone: 01
55 27 99 13
Fax: 01 55 27
99 22
pavillon.royale@christofle.com
Paris Opera
24, rue de la
Paix 75002
Telephone: 01
42 65 62 43
Fax: 01 47 42
28 51
pavillon.opera@christofle.com
Paris Muette
95, rue de
Passy 75016
Telephone: 01
46 47 51 27
Fax: 01 42 24
18 55
pavillon.passy@christofle.com
Christofle
products are also available at the department stores, Printemps,
Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marché. |
May 2008
