Maxim's Paris Restaurant Christofle Spoon - Early 1900's

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Description

Extremely RARE Maxim's Paris Chrisofle (Alfenide ) restaurant silver-plated spoon.

A genuine piece of French dining history from a restaurant … Read more Extremely RARE Maxim's Paris Chrisofle (Alfenide ) restaurant silver-plated spoon.

A genuine piece of French dining history from a restaurant that dates back to 1893.

The combination of the Alfenide mark and the goat head dates pieces to approximately 1890–1935.

What is Alfenide?
Alfenide is an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc used as a base for Christofle's silver-plated pieces. Etsy The Societe Alfenide was closely associated with Christofle from its early days, and in 1888, after declaring bankruptcy, was purchased outright by Christofle. 925-1000
The Goat Head Mark
After Christofle purchased the Alfenide name and factory in 1888, they continued to produce under the Alfenide name, making a slight tweak to the goat's head maker's mark to reflect Christofle's ownership — removing the previous owner's initials and replacing them with numbers referring to the grams of silver used per dozen pieces, depending on the size. Etsy
The "18" Mark
The number on your spoon likely indicates the silver content used in plating — a French convention where the number represents grams of silver deposited per dozen pieces of that size. Similar pieces have been marked "57" or "84" depending on piece size and silver weight. An "18" would suggest a smaller or lighter piece with a correspondingly lighter silver deposit — consistent with a teaspoon.
The Maxim's Connection
Christofle is known for producing authentic pieces commissioned for famous hospitality spots, including restaurants, hotels, and ocean liners. Chairish Maxim's de Paris, the legendary Art Nouveau brasserie on the Rue Royale, has long been associated with Christofle for its table service. A Maxim's-marked spoon would have been made specifically for the restaurant — making it a genuine piece of French dining history and quite collectible.
Dating Your Spoon
The combination of the Alfenide mark and the goat head dates pieces to approximately 1890–1935. The illegible fourth mark may be a pattern or batch number. See less