Haute orfèvrerie

Created by Maison Christofle in 1993, Haute Orfèvrerie designates the silversmith's high-end collection and the workshop that manufactures it. The items of Haute Orfèvrerie are hand-made.
 

The collection offers contemporary creations or emblematic artefacts of the House reissuing. These exceptional items through their design, dimensions or specifications, are identified in the goldsmith production by a vintage stamp, indicating the year of their manufacture.

Made to order, each item is unique numbered and delivered with a certificate of authenticity.

The Haute Orfèvrerie workshop is a repository of traditional goldsmithing techniques, such as hammer work, spinning, embossing, setting and polishing. The place has its own tools. Some belong to the silversmith who made them himself, others are transfered from generation to generation.

This workshop has two Meilleur Ouvrier de France in goldsmithing.

The Haute Orfèvrerie workshop is also a laboratory for technical experimentation. It is in this workshop that the models are developed. The model allows to apprehend the material reality of the item. It also determines the techniques and tools that are necessary for its realization. Today, depending on the case, Maison Christofle produces models using traditional techniques, or uses contemporary techniques such as scanning, modeling and 3D printing.

Contemporary techniques or traditional know-how, Haute Orfèvrerie's items are always highly desirable.

To create these sculptures, the artist Jean-François Gambino first carves the animal in clay, and once the sculpture is finished,

it is fired at high temperature then is used to create the Animal's Mold.

This mold is used to create the bear that is true to the artist's vision, next wax is cast into the mold.

The wax is heated to a high temperture and placed in a metal container to make a plaster cast. The silver is heated and flows into the plaster.

Once the animal is removed from the cast, it is polished and mounted on a marble base.

THE HALLMARKS

The pieces of Haute Orfèvrerie are marked with 3 hallmarks.

Since 1838, the guarantee coin, also known as the title coin, which guaranteed the use of money, has had a minnow's head.

This master stamp, also known as the maker's or silversmith's stamp, is unique to each silversmith and has been used since 1935 to secure silver coins.

This mark, which is unique to Christofle, is placed only on the pieces of fine silverware and indicates the year of manufacture, since 1993. It allows the pieces to be dated.

It is presented in the form of an exchange with a letter indicating the century (B for the twentieth and C for the twenty-first century) surrounded by two numbers indicating the year.

Continuing our collection of animal sculptures, Christofle offers a smaller version of magnificent sterling silver animals.

In Chinese astrology, the signs are symbolized by animals. The rabbit represents intelligence, longevity and hopefulness. It is a responsible, agile and pleasant animal.

In honor of 2023 Chinese new year, Christofle proposes three sterling silver small rabbits.

Its character is illustrated sitting, standing and running, showing its great agility.

SITTING RABBIT

STANDING RABBIT

AGILE RABBIT

A symbol of loyalty, strength, and inner peace, the bear is an animal respected by all cultures.

Represented in sterling silver, the sculpture shows the bear in all it’s grace and tranquility.

It is also designed by famous artist Jean-François GAMBINO.

Christofle renews its collaboration with the sculptor Allison Hawkes and enriches its animal collection of Haute Orfèvrerie with the Tiger small size.

The tiger, a symbol of power, has been represented by the artist in a seated position on an Emperador marble base. ​

Its finish, combining patina and mirror polish, perfectly highlights the coat and the powerful musculature of the animal. ​The sense of detail brought by the Master Goldsmiths makes this piece an exceptional sculpture. 

THE DEDICATED BOX

Each sterling silver Small Haute Orfèvrerie has it's own protective case, setting the scene for these exceptional pieces.

They are packaged in a black Haute Orfèvrerie box lined with anti-tarnish fabric and come with silversmith's gloves.

Each sculpture is unique, and limited edition with only 99 sculptures in circulation.

Made in France, every sculpture comes signed, numbered and with a certificate of authenticity.

These products are not available online. For more information, please contact by phone or e-mail through our customer service form.