With over one hundred and sixty years of silver service, Christofle is well-acquainted with the power of family tradition. Combining a heritage of artistic design, appreciation and fruitful associations with artists throughout the generations with the craft of silversmithy and innovative technological invention, their remarkable product has become heirloom and collectable in homes as far afield as its native France, to Argentina, the United States and Australia. Christofle itself, is still in the hands of the family whose long association with gold and silversmithy began in 1830 with the royalty of France and Europe.

Today, a Bouilhet's cousin- Italian born Maurizio Borletti (interview in next issue)directs the fortunes of Christofle. Third brother and youngest of the Bouilhet clan, Marc Bouilhet may have been born with the family's silver spoon in his mouth but was not immediately entranced with perpetuating its production as his own vocation. Marc joined the company in the mid 80's been both a marketing professor at France's most prestigious business school and the founder of a highly successful international business venture on his own. His timely decision, after years of persuasion by his brothers - "I told him that Christofle was in our blood," says brother Albert - coincided with Christofle's decision to diversify its interests into products such as jewellery and china which, although a departure from classic Christofle lines nonetheless bear the inimitable makers mark of Christofle's signature creativity. With Marc Bouilhet heading the marketing and commercial activities of Christofle the family is complete and in preparation for the next generation to carry on what began with brothers-in-law Charles Christofle and Joseph Bouilhet and a Napoleonic patronage.