Overview
- The three defendants appeared before the Paris criminal court on February 26 charged with theft and handling of more than 100 presidential tableware pieces.
- Prosecutors say the former Élysée silver steward abused a limited right to recover damaged items by removing intact Sèvres porcelain used for state dinners.
- Investigators traced an online resale circuit through Facebook collector groups, where a Louvre employee bought about 150 pieces over two years for roughly €15,000.
- In court, the ex-steward said he selected pieces for their beauty, displayed them at home and sold some when facing financial difficulties, while the buyer claims he realized the problem only after a TV program.
- Most of the porcelain has been recovered and returned, with Sèvres joining as a civil party as the defense contests the factory’s roughly €370,000 damage claim and argues for much lower market values.