[VIVE LA France] The art of beautiful tables: so French!

A beautiful Linvosges Christmas tablecloth, Puiforcat or Christofle silverware, glasses from Cristallerie Saint-Louis or Baccarat around pretty Limoges porcelain plates Bernardaud or Haviland, the art of the French table is a royal tradition which the Republic has never denounced, quite the contrary. The table at the Elysée or those in the Senate arouse the amazement of France's guests. Elegance, discreet luxury, refinement in the smallest silver salt shaker whose sparkles are reflected in the cut crystal glass with a thousand facets, the princess knows how to entertain and does not have exclusivity. This is a well-shared prerogative among us where the love of beautiful tables goes hand in hand with good food, these two precious assets of our heritage being found during the end-of-year celebrations. Nice decor in red and green for Christmas, no offense to the secularists who would happily settle for an exclusive Communard red. White and gold edging punctuated with the green of mistletoe on New Year's Eve, family or friendly tables, the occasion is too good not to pull out all the stops. Beautiful tables and what they offer have always been a key element of the French celebration.

It is a manufacturing sector whose know-how driven by a spirit of creativity that generates innovation is centuries old. And where, thank God, our brilliant enarques have not gone to stick their noses of rationalizers and outsourcers, just to save on the cost of labor.

Limoges porcelain has remained well anchored there since the 18th century.^e century and the takeover, this month, of Haviland, founded in 1842 by Bernardaud, another neighboring porcelain manufacturer, founded in 1863 is a guarantee of the dynamism of this French flagship. Bernardaud is a family business where the sixth generation is preparing to take over. Michel, the current CEO still in charge, relies more and more on his son Charles, a polytechnician and now general manager of both entities. “ Haviland will continue to produce its collections in its workshops » with its 90 employees, assures the factory in a press release. This control is an opportunity for Bernardaud “ to increase its industrial power thanks to the know-how and complementary skills of Haviland » tells us the company which has 650 employees. Bernardaud, a more dynamic and creative company than its oldest, but the latter has a nice heritage to highlight. This association should make it possible to do so.
The son Charles, unlike his father who took over the reins of the company in 1994 following the sudden and accidental disappearance of his father ” by family duty » he declared in an interview with FR 3, fell into porcelain at a very young age.

Attached to the company as well as to this heritage of French know-how, he sensed the evolution of the market which also affects goldsmithing. Gone is the wedding list with housewife and four-piece service for twelve place settings. Young couples opt for an Ikea service, as long as the list includes an exotic trip with bungee jumping or diving among sharks… Each era has its pleasures.

Aware of this evolution, these houses have been able to reinvent themselves by offering decorative objects, designed by renowned artists. And fortunately, the Middle Eastern and even American markets remain good customers. The young jeweler who founded Christofle in 1830 had the good idea to buy, in 1842, the patents for gilding and silvering by electrolysis. A revolution which ensured at the time, for this modest factory in Bondy, a real boom which continues in its current factory in Yainville (Seine Maritime). Especially since in the middle of the 19th century^e century the bourgeoisie understood that the beautiful table could also be an essential moment of sociability. Very quickly, Christofle positioned itself as the preferred supplier to large hotels, restaurants, embassies and other tables of power. Napoleon III's order in 1852 for one hundred place settings for the Tuileries Palace, i.e. 4,700 pieces, was valuable support from the Emperor to the progress of industry and in particular to this goldsmith's factory. A service which, moreover, went up in smoke in the fire of the palace, in 1871, with the exception of the monumental one especially (pieces of decorum placed in the center of the table) visible at the Museum of Decorative Arts which devotes an exhibition to Christofle until April 20.

Building on this tradition, these living heritage companies, members of the Comité Colbert which brings together nearly a hundred luxury houses, “ to passionately promote, patiently transmit, sustainably develop French know-how and creation to inspire dreams » have been able, through their creativity, to reposition themselves over the decades according to fashions, desires and talents. It is one of the riches of French genius. And even young people are happy for the holidays to find their grandmother's service!