Élysée Palace Silver and Tableware Stolen by Steward, Prosecutors Say
A silver steward at the presidential palace of France is under indictment for allegedly stealing “heritage property” after nearly a hundred valuable silverware and tableware pieces were reported missing and later found in his car, locker, and residence, according to French prosecutors. The stolen items from the Élysée Palace collection — which include copper pots, Sèvres porcelain, a René Lalique figurine, and Baccarat Champagne glasses — were returned following the investigation, prosecutors confirmed. This revelation follows a string of offenses that have alarmed the French populace, such as the Louvre robbery in October and a theft incident at the Museum of Natural History in Paris in September. The thefts at the presidential palace were not a bold daytime burglary like that at the museum, nor a subtle overnight theft; instead, prosecutors describe it as an inside job. The investigation began after a palace steward reported the loss of items valued between 15,000 and 40,000 euros (approximately $17,000 to $47,000), as indicated by a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office in response to an inquiry on Sunday. Officials from the Sèvres manufactory, which is France’s government-owned porcelain factory, recognized some of their distinctive items being auctioned online, including a plate marked with an Air Force insignia and ashtrays unavailable to the general public. Following interviews with palace staff, suspicion pointed to one of the “argentiers,” or silver stewards, tasked with maintaining the palace’s tableware elegance. The steward had been managing a “declining inventory,” prosecutors noted, and was romantically involved with the manager of an online auction firm known for selling tableware, with both apparently residing together where some of the stolen items were located. They were taken into custody on Tuesday and presented in court on Thursday. Another individual, suspected of being a fence, or receiver of stolen goods, has also been indicted. A trial has been scheduled for late February concerning the theft of movable heritage property, which could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and fines of 150,000 euros, roughly equivalent to $175,000, along with aggravated receipt of stolen property, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and 150,000 euros in fines. The suspects have been placed under supervised release while awaiting trial, and they are currently barred from their workplaces and from accessing auction sites, among other limitations, according to prosecutors. The Élysée reports that argentiers are exclusive to the palace. They are accountable for the maintenance of all silverware, tableware, and crystal; they set the tables; and they hand wash the pieces post-meal to ensure their preservation. Many of these items are over a century old. The palace’s website highlights that the United Nations has recognized the French art of dining as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Presently, there are job openings for Élysée argentiers.
Published: 2025-12-22 01:58:00
source: www.nytimes.com
