From November 14, 2024 to April 20, 2025, the MAD in Paris celebrates Christofle with a unique exhibition. The editorial team is eager to tell you about it!
This retrospective highlights the evolution of Christofle since its founding in the 1830s by Charles Christofle and Henri Bouilhet. Through more than 600 pieces goldwork, paintings, drawings and posters, we immerse ourselves in the world of this iconic house. The exhibition takes place in an immersive journey. It reveals how this house revolutionized the lines and decorations of silver, while remaining anchored in the French art of living.
Exceptional know-how
Christofle has continued to innovate in terms of design and craftsmanship. The house has partnered with the greatest creators. Gio Ponti, Andrée Putman, Karl Lagerfeld and even Pharrell Williams have brought an avant-garde touch to traditional goldsmithing. The exhibition showcases this abundant diversity of creations. This ranges from small spoons to monumental furniture exhibited during major Universal Exhibitions.
Each room of the exhibition transports you into the history of this legendary house. From his first successes with silver-plated pieces to his most contemporary collaborations. Christofle’s excellent know-how is revealed through demonstrations of silvering and gilding processes, as well as the careful manufacturing of a simple fork. “Christofle, a brilliant story” takes you behind the scenes. The secrets of a profession where chemistry and electricity mingle with art to enhance everyday gestures are revealed.
Christofle, ambassador of French luxury
Since the Second Empire under Napoleon III, Christofle has equipped the greatest palaces, hotels and restaurants around the world. Majestic table services are created for emblematic places such as the Ritz, the Normandie or the famous Orient-Express. The exhibition allows you to relive these exceptional moments. The sumptuous tables for diplomatic receptions or luxurious trips by liner or plane are set identically.
Discover how Christofle has adapted to changing uses while remaining faithful to its spirit of innovation. From the duck press at the Tour d’Argent to the service aboard the Concorde, Christofle is a tribute to the French art of living.
Contemporary since eternal
The exhibition also shows how the house perpetuates its style and marks its time. Since the 1990s, Christofle has collaborated with international designers such as Sylvain Dubuisson, Jean-Marie Massaud or even Christian Lacroix, to create daring pieces.
By reinterpreting everyday objects, such as video game consoles or even sneaker boxes, Christofle interferes in our lives with refinement. The second floor of the exhibition offers a museographic store. You can admire the full range of Christofle’s creations, from iconic cutlery to tea sets.
From November 14, 2024 to April 20, 2025, it is held in the galeries Christine & Stephen A. Schwarzman from the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.
Written by victory, the October 18, 2024
