French silversmith Christofle designed this elegant Art Deco barware serving set for cocktails or appetizers for its Gallia collection in the 1930s. The hors d'oeuvres platter dish features a large oval silver plate serving tray with carved ribbed handles. Five hand-blown crystal serving dishes with cut etching complete the set to display vegetables or olives. One central oval bowl with a silver plate lid can be used for dipping sauce. 
Each crystal dish can be removed from the tray for serving purposes. This is a perfect piece for entertainment or for parties to serve appetizers with cocktails. The legal silversmith hallmarks are on the underside of the tray.
 
Note: Created at the turn of the 20th century, at the time of the famous 1900 Paris World Fair, the Gallia collection takes its name from a tin alloy of enormous importance. With its name harkening back to "Gaul" and the Gallic rooster as its mark and symbol, Gallia Metal put the spotlight on French innovation once more.
This alloy was a milestone in Christofle's history. Making for high-quality, hard-wearing tableware, Gallia metal had the advantage of being robust and lasting longer. It could also be melted into steel molds instead of being hammered into shape.
Gallia metal quickly became a springboard of ideas for Christofle. Collections were produced in bold, modern styles at the time. Tableware and the decorative arts have been proposing the same Louis XVI, 18th, and 19th-century motifs in a loop since 1850.
This was the rise of Art Nouveau, which focused on Nature. Following this, the 20th century saw an explosion of new styles, from Art Deco to Modernism.
The Gallia collection allowed Christofle's master silversmiths to experiment. As early as 1900, collaborations with extraordinary artists and designers under the Gallia name and Christofle's aegis made the rooster a symbol of the avant-garde movement.
(Credit: Christofle website)