Baccarat, Crystal Cup, France Circa 1860

Elegant navette-shaped crystal bowl, finely engraved with delicate vegetal and floral friezes. Its bronze mount is composed of long curved arms formed by tubular stems that end in small spheres. On each support, an oval-shaped medallion is adorned with a female profile of classical inspiration (reminiscent of medals or cameos), representing Minerva.

BIOGRAPHY

The famous crystal manufacture of Baccarat, that dates back to the 18th century, was awarded its first medal in 1823, during the “Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie” for the “brilliance and the sharpness of its crystal” and became then the most renowned French “cristallerie”. Baccarat was undoubtedly the only French manufacture, that exhibited steadily and magnificently its products at the various Universal Exhibitions, and especially between 1855 and 1867. Reports of the Universal Exhibition, from 1855 to 1867, talk about the “perfection of the material and of its cut”, considered superior of those from Bohemia or England.