Original Item: Only One Available. This is an impressive Saddam Hussein-era Iraqi state serving tray manufactured in France by the renowned silversmith Christofle. The tray bears a large Iraqi coat of arms in its center and is reported to have originated from Basra Airport. Recently obtained through Al Finjan Antiques in Baghdad, it is accompanied by a copy of the dealer’s original letter and an English translation documenting its lawful commercial sale and export from Iraq.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Coalition forces occupied government buildings, military installations, airports, and numerous presidential palaces associated with Saddam Hussein’s regime. Considerable quantities of state-owned furnishings and tableware were dispersed during and after the conflict. Some pieces were carried away as wartime souvenirs, while others remained in Iraq and were later sold or otherwise released through Iraqi channels.

This tray was not represented to us as an undocumented battlefield souvenir or as property removed by a Coalition serviceman. It was purchased through Al Finjan Antiques, an established antiques dealer in Baghdad described in the accompanying documentation as holding authorization to export such material. Included with the tray is a copy of the dealer’s letter on company letterhead together with an English translation.

The documentation states that the tray was legally obtained in Iraq and was not considered protected antiquities or heritage property under Iraqi Law No. 55 of 2002. Prospective purchasers should review the accompanying documents and reach their own conclusions regarding the provenance and legal status of the piece.

The tray is constructed from silver-plated metal and has an elegant raised border decorated with repeating crossed-ribbon devices positioned at intervals around the edge. The formal design is restrained but luxurious, entirely appropriate for state receptions, government dining rooms, senior officers’ facilities, or official hospitality service.

The center of the tray bears a large roll-stamped Iraqi coat of arms of the pattern used between 1965 and 1991. The emblem depicts the Eagle of Saladin with a shield displaying the Iraqi national colors.

Roll stamping is a manufacturing process in which an engraved die is pressed against the surface while the object is moved beneath it. This allows a large design to be transferred into the metal with less concentrated pressure than a single direct strike. The process produced the crisp, permanent state emblem visible in the center of the tray.

The underside is marked:

CHRISTOFLE
FRANCE

It also bears the company’s goldsmith and quality hallmarks. Based on the supplied research, the left mark is the Christofle goldsmith’s mark introduced in 1935, while the quality hallmark on the right was used between approximately 1935 and 1983. These markings indicate that the tray predates the 2003 Iraq War by a considerable period and was likely acquired for Iraqi government or state institutional use during the later monarchy, republic, or Ba’athist era.

Christofle was founded in Paris in 1830 by Charles Christofle and became internationally renowned for high-quality silverware, tableware, and decorative metalwork. The firm played an important role in introducing electroplated silver production in France and supplied luxury table services to governments, hotels, embassies, institutions, and wealthy private clients throughout the world.

The tray retains most of its original silver plating. There is expected tarnishing, surface wear, light scratching, and localized loss to the plated finish from age and use. The decorative border and central Iraqi emblem remain clearly visible and display extremely well.

The surface has not been aggressively polished. Collectors may prefer to retain the present patina, which gives the tray an attractive aged appearance and preserves evidence of its long institutional use. Any cleaning should be undertaken carefully with products intended specifically for silver-plated objects, as excessive polishing could remove additional plating.

The tray stands approximately 1" high and measures approximately 19 3/4" wide by 11 1/4" overall. The recessed central serving area measures approximately 16 1/4" wide by 7 3/4".

The accompanying dealer documentation associates the tray with Basra Airport. During the Iraq War, Basra International Airport became one of the principal British military bases in southern Iraq. Approximately 5,000 British personnel from the Army, Royal Air Force, and supporting services were stationed there during the height of operations.

British forces also occupied Basra Palace, a former Saddam Hussein presidential complex in the center of the city. By 2007, British positions at both the palace and airport were subjected to repeated rocket, mortar, sniper, and improvised explosive device attacks by armed militias.

Basra Palace was evacuated in September 2007, when British troops withdrew to the more defensible airport base. Following the 2008 Battle of Basra and the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Iraqi government, British forces relinquished control of Basra Airport in 2009.

The supplied documentation does not establish precisely where within the airport complex the tray was used, when it was removed from service, or whether it had previously been located in a presidential, government, military, or hospitality facility. Its identification as an Iraqi state tray from Basra Airport should therefore be understood as dealer-supplied provenance rather than a documented connection to Saddam Hussein’s personal household.

Original Iraqi government tableware with identifiable state insignia is highly collectible, particularly when manufactured by an internationally recognized luxury firm and accompanied by Iraqi-source documentation. The combination of Christofle manufacture, pre-1991 Iraqi heraldry, Basra Airport association, substantial size, and included dealer letter makes this a visually striking artifact of Saddam Hussein-era Iraq and the later Global War on Terror.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Christofle
Country of Manufacture: France
Period: Saddam Hussein Era and Iraq War Provenance
Central Device: Iraqi Coat of Arms Used from 1965 to 1991
Overall Width: Approximately 19 3/4"
Overall Depth: Approximately 11 1/4"
Height: Approximately 1"
Central Serving Area: Approximately 16 1/4" x 7 3/4"