20thC SILVER PLATED ART DECO COCKTAIL SHAKER BY CHRISTOFLE, FRANCE c.1950

DESCRIPTION

A quality cocktail shaker in silver plate by Christofle, made in France around middle part of the 20th century. It is part of the Gallia collection which was an innovative alloy which allowed Christofle to produce hardwearing products for commercial use. As can be seen with this item, it has stood the test of time and it is as attractive now as was at the time with its Art Deco look. Useful, practical and elegant, it is a wonderful way to embellish any home bar.

Created at the turn of the 20th century, at the time of the famous 1900 Paris Exposition, the Gallia collection takes its name from a tin alloy of enormous importance in its time. With its name harkening back to "Gaul" and the Gallic rooster as its mark and symbol, Gallia metal put the spotlight on French innovation once more. This alloy was a milestone in Christofle's history. Making for high-quality, hard-wearing tableware, Gallia metal had the advantage of being robust and lasting longer. It could also be melted into steel moulds instead of being hammered into shape. Gallia metal quickly became a springboard of ideas for Christofle. Collections were produced in bold, modern styles at a time when tableware and the decorative arts in general had been proposing the same Louis XVI, 18th and 19th century motifs in a loop since 1850. This was the rise of Art Nouveau, which focused on Nature – or a stylised version of it. Following this, the 20th century saw an explosion of new styles, from Art Deco to Modernism. The Gallia collection gave Christofle's master silversmiths the opportunity to experiment. As early as 1900, collaborations with extraordinary artists and designers under the Gallia name and Christofle's aegis made the rooster a symbol of the avant-garde movement, and so it would remain for a century.

CONDITION

In Great Vintage Condition - Please refer to photographs. 

SIZE

Height: 26cm
Diameter: 10cm