10/02/2025
There are certain moments when history, art, and personal memory all intertwine. Watching Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, I was struck by the luminous presence of the Elysée service, a dinnerware pattern steeped in French history and refinement.
Produced in 1832 for King Louis-Philippe at the Tuileries Palace, the service reflects his desire to begin anew, choosing to commission fresh tableware for the royal residences rather than rely on the pieces of his predecessors. The design itself is a dialogue between Empire elegance and Classical purity. A gravy boat reminiscent of an ancient oil lamp, a creamer echoing a French water pitcher, and the decoration; a frieze of palm leaves in burnished gold set against a pale blue ground.
To see this service appear in Downton Abbey was enchanting, but to capture photographs of it and then be invited to experience its beauty firsthand at the Bernardaud showroom and boutique on Park Avenue in New York City was magical. As a young girl, I often walked those very streets, dreaming of elegance and artistry. Standing there years later, surrounded by the living legacy of Bernardaud, felt like a dream realized, a reminder that beauty always finds its way into the present and a full circle moment for the young dreamer that still lives within me. Thank you to the House of Bernardaud for such gracious welcome. Bernardaud , a French luxury brand, now available at Casa Cristalle.
