About the Breed

History of the Creme d’argent

The Crème d’Argent is a rabbit breed that was developed in France during the mid-to-late 1800’s. It is not clear how the Crème d’Argent was initially created, most likely the Champagne d’Argent, oldest of the seven Argent rabbit breeds, played a part. The first mention of the Crème d’Argent appeared in a written piece in the Live Stock Journal describing the Jardin d’Acclimatation rabbit exhibition held near Paris in 1877. The breed soon became popular and was sought after for producing fur trimmings, which were used on fashionable garments of the time.

The first Crème d’Argents arrived in America prior to 1924 and were imported by several individuals in the New York state area. These first importations were bred pure and crossed with other breeds, such as the Golden Palomino. The “Americanized” Crème d’Argents were developed to have a meat type, unlike those that matched the original European standard for this breed. In America, Crème d’Argent rabbits were first shown at the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Convention and Show in 1936. A working standard for the breed was established in the US in 1938. Today, the breed has become extinct in all countries except the US and the United Kingdom. The global population is estimated to be less than 1000 animals, according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the Crème d’Argent Rabbit Federation (2006).

The Crème d’Argent is creamy-white in color with an orange cast carried throughout the fur of the body. The undercoat is bright orange and this color carries to the skin. The entire coat is interspersed with orange guard hairs. These rabbits are considered a large breed with the bucks weighing 8-10 1/2 lbs and does weighing 8 1/2 to 11 lbs. The does are reputed to be good mothers that average 5-8 kits per litter. Crème d’Argents have a relaxed and likeable personality, which makes them a good choice as a breed for beginners to rabbits.

Origins of the Creme d’Argent

The history of the Creme D'Argent rabbit is surrounded in antiquity. It, like many of its counterparts, is not a true original genus of the rabbit family. The Flemish Giant, Dutch, Rhinelander, etc. date so far back into the past that recorded manufactured breeds as in most that we know today. The Creme D'Argent originated in France, as did its counterpart-- the Champagne D'Argent. The primary difference is the color. The creme made its appearance in this country in 1926 and since then has attracted quite a following, having many admirers because of their luxurious colored fur. The name, Creme D'Argent, is French meaning the silver of 'creme silver', referring to the animal's magnificent color. It is, however, highly unlikely that the D'Argent, as we know it today, is a type product of France entirely.

One of the breeds brought into Western Europe was the Silver who is the fore bearer of our Creme D'Argent today. The practice of cross-breeding the Silver with local domesticated breeds became quite popular. With the silver factor being a dominant gene, a silvered product was produced of which became the ancestors of the present day Creme. It was in the Champagne districts of France that French rabbit breeders developed the D'Argent rabbit, later naming these D'Argents, Champagne D'Argents. It is generally believed that the Creme is the production of cross-breeding the Silver with the golden fawn Flemish Giant or Belgian Hare. Both of these breeds became popular through western Europe, even though it was the British that later refined them.

Source: Creme D'Argent Official Guidebook