Christofle silver plated duck press, Paris, circa 1900, closed, with palmette decoration — Daniels Antiques
Christofle duck press with chamber door open showing pierced strainer basket — Daniels Antiques
Christofle duck press side view, screw press on scrolled legs and wooden base — Daniels Antiques
Christofle silver plated duck press, Paris, circa 1900, closed, with palmette decoration — Daniels Antiques
Christofle duck press with chamber door open showing pierced strainer basket — Daniels Antiques
Christofle duck press side view, screw press on scrolled legs and wooden base — Daniels Antiques

Christofle Silver Plated Duck Press, c.1900, Tour d'Argent Provenance

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A silver-plated duck press by Maison Christofle of Paris, signed by the maker and numbered 1873434, decorated with palmettes and swept foliage, the cylindrical pressing chamber with hinged door and pierced strainer basket beneath an arched frame, the great screw descending from above, raised on scrolled legs on a shaped wooden base.

The press belonged to Alfredo Guedes, a wealthy Brazilian resident in Paris at the turn of the last century, and by family tradition was a gift to him from La Tour d'Argent, the storied Paris restaurant of which he was a habitué; it has descended in his family to the present day. It was at La Tour d'Argent in 1890 that Frédéric Delair, the maître d'hôtel who became the restaurant's owner, codified the Caneton Tour d'Argent — the pressed duck that made the house famous, finished before the diner in an illustrious table ritual, the press extracting the juices from the carcass for the sauce. A duck press with a credible connection to the restaurant that invented the dish is as good as the object's story gets.

Maison Christofle, founded in 1830 by Charles Christofle (1805–1863), was the silversmith to Emperor Napoleon III and one of the greatest nineteenth-century French silver houses; the firm thrives in Paris to this day.

Circa 1900.

Condition: Excellent.

Dimensions: 20 in. height x 13 in. width x 9 in. depth

A silver-plated duck press by Maison Christofle of Paris, signed by the maker and numbered 1873434, decorated with palmettes and swept foliage, the cylindrical pressing chamber with hinged door and pierced strainer basket beneath an arched frame, the great screw descending from above, raised on scrolled legs on a shaped wooden base.

The press belonged to Alfredo Guedes, a wealthy Brazilian resident in Paris at the turn of the last century, and by family tradition was a gift to him from La Tour d'Argent, the storied Paris restaurant of which he was a habitué; it has descended in his family to the present day. It was at La Tour d'Argent in 1890 that Frédéric Delair, the maître d'hôtel who became the restaurant's owner, codified the Caneton Tour d'Argent — the pressed duck that made the house famous, finished before the diner in an illustrious table ritual, the press extracting the juices from the carcass for the sauce. A duck press with a credible connection to the restaurant that invented the dish is as good as the object's story gets.

Maison Christofle, founded in 1830 by Charles Christofle (1805–1863), was the silversmith to Emperor Napoleon III and one of the greatest nineteenth-century French silver houses; the firm thrives in Paris to this day.

Circa 1900.

Condition: Excellent.

Dimensions: 20 in. height x 13 in. width x 9 in. depth

A Duck Press by Maison Christofle of Paris

  • This press belonged to Mr. Alfredo Guedes, a wealthy Brazilian who resided in Paris at the turn of the last century, (uncle of the grandmother of the current owner). According to family tradition, this press was a gift from the restaurant La Tour d'Argent, ()founded in 1584, in Paris) where Alfredo was a habitue.

    In 1890, Frédéric Delair, maître d'hôtel who became owner of La Tour d'Argent, codified the recipe for "Tour d'Argent duck" which would make the restaurant famous. He finished preparing the dish in front of the customer and accompanies it with an illustrious serving ritual, cutting the duck with the tip of a fork. The press is employed to extract the fluids generated during the cooking.

    Maison Christofle, founded in 1830 by Charles Christofle (1805–1863), becoming silversmith to Emperor Napoleon the Third (1898-1873)and one of the major silversmiths in nineteenth-century France. The Parisian company still thrives.

  • Item is in overall great condition. For further condition details or a condition report contact danielsantiques@comcast.net

  • Height 20 inches

    width: 13 inches

    Depth: 9 inches

  • 1900