Charles Christofle Table Warmer With Bell, Silver-plated Metal And Crystal, 19th Century

A mid-19th-century silver-plated food warmer or table warmer, bearing the Charles Christofle hallmark, a scale between two "C"s (1844-1862), with its crystal dome. Serving was very ceremonial at the time, and this warmer was used to keep delicate dishes warm on the table or a sideboard, the crystal dome allowing guests to appreciate the refinement of the preparation. The base, supporting a removable tray, is beautifully decorated in the Regency style with scrolls, shells, and medallions. This tray reveals the alcohol reservoir with its lid. A wick is present in the reservoir. The crystal dome is topped with a faceted, round handle. This high-quality piece is in very good condition, with no damage. Only the tray has a small area of silver plating loss, measuring 25 x 5 mm, visible in the photos. The tray measures 22.5 cm in diameter, and the overall height is 28 cm. Charles Christofle founded the company that bears his name in 1830. Originally a jeweler, he acquired the patents for silvering and gilding by electrolysis in 1842. Now a silversmith, he elevated ceremonial items and everyday objects: from jewelry to cutlery, from silverware to sculpture, from decorative objects to tableware. In 1842, Charles Christofle acquired the patents that gave rise to silver and gold plating. More durable and less harmful than traditional techniques, electrolytic silvering and gilding made it possible to create silverware virtually indistinguishable from solid silver. As the holder of these patents, Christofle was the only one in France authorized to produce silver-plated metal for 15 years. Among his first clients was King Louis-Philippe I, who commissioned a complete service for the Château d'Eu in Normandy, a summer residence of the French royal family. The 1855 Universal Exhibition in Paris, the first to be held in France, marked a double technical and artistic recognition for Charles Christofle. The company exhibited key pieces from Napoleon III's grand centerpiece, which was displayed on a 50-meter-long table. Christofle became the Emperor's official supplier.