ORFEVRERIE CHRISTOFLE - LINO SABATTINI - Service Ceylan - 1960
Exceptional and complete Christofle silver-plated tea and coffee set, model “Ceylan,” designed by Lino Sabattini (1925 - 2016) circa 1960.
Sabattini’s work bridges the gap between traditional silversmithing and modern sculpture. His pieces are characterized by purity of line, balance, and organic geometry — often compared to the aesthetics of Scandinavian and Bauhaus design.
This rare 5-piece service (coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, and matching tray or base, if applicable) is in immaculate condition — never used, with no dents, scratches, or wear. The silver plating is pristine, and each piece bears the original Christofle hallmarks.
Today, his designs for Christofle, especially Ceylan and Spazio, are highly collectible and celebrated for their timeless elegance and modern refinement.
PRODUCT INFO
Lino Sabattini (born September 23, 1925, in Correggio, Italy – died August 27, 2016, in Blevio, Italy) was one of Italy’s most influential postwar silversmiths and designers.
Lino Sabattini began his career as a self-taught craftsman in the small Emilia-Romagna town of Correggio. After World War II, his remarkable sense of form and proportion drew the attention of avant-garde design circles in Milan. In the 1950s, he caught the eye of Gio Ponti, who encouraged him and helped launch his career internationally.
Sabattini later became Art Director for Christofle in Paris during the late 1950s and early 1960s, where he introduced a new, modernist aesthetic to the famed French silversmith. His designs, including the “Ceylan”, “Spazio”, and “Rivier”services, combined fluid sculptural forms with minimalist precision — a radical departure from the ornate silver of earlier eras.
In 1964, he returned to Italy and founded Argenteria Sabattini in Bregnano (Como), where he continued producing innovative silver and silver-plated objects, blending craftsmanship with industrial techniques. His work was exhibited internationally, including at the Triennale di Milano, and is now part of major museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Design Museum Gent...
Sabattini’s refined modernist design combined with Christofle’s legendary craftsmanship makes this service one of the most sought-after examples of mid-20th century French/Italian design. Sets in such untouched condition, are increasingly rare and highly desirable among collectors and design connoisseurs.
Extracts of the original Catalogue Commercial Christofle Contemporain shows the Ceylan service.
SIGNATURE/MARKS:
Punch/mark OC Orfévrerie Christofle – "Coll. Gallia"
DATE:
c. 1960
MATERIAL:
Christofle silver-plated metal
ORIGIN:
France
SIZE:
- Round tray — Ø 36 cm (14.2 in)
- Coffee pot — H 16 cm (6.3 in), W 17 cm (6.7 in)
- Teapot — H 12.5 cm (4.9 in), W 21 cm (8.3 in)
- Milk jug — H 7 cm (2.8 in), W 14 cm (5.5 in)
- Sugar bowl — H 10 cm (3.9 in), W 11 cm (4.3 in)
WEIGHT:
4,75 kg – 10,47 lb
CONDITION:
from a private collection - never used / mint / original Christofle hallmarks / Lino Sabattini”
SALES CONDITIONS:
Please read our Sales Conditons here
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