The Creme Argente Rabbit, is a gorgeous variety of one of France’s oldest breeds of fancy rabbit, and is also one of today’s rarest rabbit breeds! The Creme Argente Rabbit has both meat and fur properties, and today makes a stunning show animal with its lovely coat. The Creme Argente Rabbit will need regular and careful grooming to keep it from becoming uncomfortably matted, but with its striking appearance and docile personality, is well worth your time and energy!
The Creme Argente Rabbit weighs between nine and 11 pounds. Its coat has the effect of well-worn metal by the longer orange guard hairs that are interspersed throughout the fur. This fur is of a cream color, which has the slightest orange tint. The shade should be very even, with sleek orange guard hairs evenly interspersed- too may or too few will ruin the lovely effect of the coat. The Creme Argente Rabbit’s undercolor is carried down to the skin, and is a rich and bright orange color.
The entire coat is sleek and flat and quite striking! The head, feet and erect ears should be the same color as the body. Creme Argente Rabbits have graceful backs with a slight arching curve. The hindquarters, back, and shoulders of the Creme Argente Rabbit are strong and well developed, and the body is of medium length. This variety is just a bit smaller than the standard Champagne d’Argente Rabbit.
The standard variety of the Creme Argente Rabbit has been raised in France for more than one hundred years, where it is a fancy rabbit known as the Argente de Champagne. It was developed in the region of Champagne and thus named for that place and its color, argente or silver in French. Specific markets for the Argente Rabbit, known long ago as “Millers”, were held, since these then-common rabbits were so popular with furriers.
The Argente de Champagne Rabbit was raised for the most part by peasants, who used it for fur and meat. The early specimens, with darker heads, tended to have a darker undercolor, as those do with lighter heads, which had lighter undercolors. Introduced in 1934, the Creme Argente Rabbit is just one of several colors of Argente Rabbit. Today it is considered a fur breed in the United Kingdom and is shown as a six-class breed.
The Creme Argente Rabbit has surprisingly become quite scarce despite its unusual appearance and sweet nature. In show, your Creme Argente Rabbit will be marked faults for having a mandolin body type or for any hint of yellow or champagne coloration. The undercolor should not have brick or dull tones. Creme Argente Rabbits will also be marked faults for having shoulders that are flat or flabby.
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