- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France
- YEAR RECOGNIZED: 1938
- USES: Show, fur, meat
- WEIGHT: 11 pounds (5 kg) max., senior does
- BODY TYPE: Commercial
- FUR TYPE: ARBA Commercial Normal Fur Standard
- COLOR: Creamy white with orange cast from undercoat of bright orange
THE CRÈME D’ARGENT is one of the oldest breeds recognized by the ARBA, with its ancestry dating at least to the mid-1800s in France. The silvery Champagne d’Argent Rabbit, slightly larger than the 11 pound (5 kg) Crème, was undoubtedly a major influence in the breed’s development.
A stunning rabbit when in perfect pelage, the Crème has goldenwhite fur with a bright orange undercoat and orange guard hairs, except on the cream- or white-furred belly. As with some other rabbit breeds, advancing age tends to lighten and dull the youthful bright coat.
The breed reached the United States in the 1920s but was faulted for having black ears and black guard hairs. Harry Clauss of Canandaigua, New York, added fawn-colored Flemish to the Crème gene pool and effectively eliminated the unwanted dark fur. These modern Crèmes, American style, were first shown in 1936. The ARBA officially welcomed the new breed in 1938.
One of a group of closely related Argent Rabbit breeds, the Crèmes never became popular in North America, despite their luxurious coat. Previously on The Livestock Conservancy’s threatened list, the breed is now recovering.