1970s Christofle Napoleon III Letter Opener

Late 20th century/circa 1970 silvered Napoleon Empereur letter opener by Christofle By: Christofle Material: silver, silver plate, metal, paper Technique: polished, silvered, metalwork Dimensions: 2 x 9 x 0.5 Date: late 20th century, circa 1970 Style: Renaissance Revival, Space Age, Post-Modernism Place of origin: France The body of this exquisitely crafted letter opener is made entirely of polished silver. It consists of a circular medallion featuring a relief design in the center, from which projects a sharply pointed blade. One side of the medallion is ornamented with a bas-relief profile of a dignified gentleman, encircled by the french inscription ‘Napoleon Empereur’ (Napoleon Emperor). The reverse displays a laurel motif along with Napoleon’s personal emblem, the bee. Etched upon the base of the blade is the hallmark of the eminent Christofle silversmiths, attesting to the fine craftsmanship of this piece. It is presented in a cardboard box bearing the Christofle brand logo on the cover. Christofle produced iconic mid-century/late 20th century silverware designs that combined modern and neoclassical influences. Their technical innovations in silversmithing and collaborations with major designers made Christofle an influential french luxury brand in the 20th century design