Words by Allegra Salvadori
Yesterday in Dubai, Christofle and Charlotte Chesnais unveiled Carrousel — a flatware collection where the sculptural language of jewellery finds its place at the table. Marie Claire Maison Arabia attended the presentation, where craftsmanship unfolded like choreography — a dialogue of light, line, and French savoir-faire in perfect motion.
Renowned for her sinuous silhouettes and fluid metalwork, Charlotte Chesnais extends her creative universe beyond the body to the dining table, reimagining the ritual of dining as an act of adornment. Presented within Christofle’s Dubai boutique, the unveiling offered an intimate encounter with Carrousel — an object that feels less like a cutlery set and more like a contemporary sculpture.
In an exclusive exchange with Marie Claire Maison Arabia, Charlotte Chesnais shared how Carrousel transforms sculpture into function, bringing her jewellery’s sensual geometry to the table. “It was very intentional, but in the opposite way: the idea was to transform a sculpture into a functional object. That’s really how I approach design in general. My jewellery is drawn like sculpture, and I wanted to bring the same vision here.”
Echoing Christofle’s sculptural MOOD case, Carrousel continues this exploration of design as performance — a dialogue between form and function. “You start with this object that might seem cold or intimidating because it’s made of metal and has this strong sculptural presence,” Chesnais continues, “but as soon as you open it, there’s warm wood inside. It becomes inviting… a shared moment: convivial, generous, human.”
The collaboration marks a poetic encounter between two masters of metalwork: Christofle, the French silversmith founded in 1830, and Chesnais, whose contemporary jewellery dances between art and utility. Together, they reimagine cutlery as “jewellery for the table” — tactile, sensual, and infinitely refined.
Each fork, knife, and spoon reveals a soft, open teardrop at its base, a signature gesture borrowed from Chesnais’ own language of curves. Crafted in Christofle’s Normandy ateliers, the collection embodies centuries of savoir-faire, with pieces offered in silver-plated metal and, for the most discerning, a two-tone version delicately gilded with 18-karat gold.
Beyond the utensils lies an objet d’art: a bi-coloured sculptural case that opens like a secret door to reveal the cutlery standing upright on a walnut wood panel — a kinetic display where each piece becomes a miniature sculpture. Inspired by the planar forms of Jean Arp, it transforms the ritual of setting the table into a visual performance.
“I’ve always dreamt of designing flatware — a savoir-faire that feels close yet different from jewellery,” says Chesnais. “These are pieces that live with you, sharing countless moments around the table.”
With Carrousel, Christofle continues its legacy of collaborations with visionary artists — from Gio Ponti to Andrée Putman — reaffirming that true craftsmanship transcends function, becoming art for everyday life.
