A Baccarat signed Antique French Ormolu Mounted Cut Crystal Centerpiece, 19th C

Description

A Signed 19th Century Neoclassical French Ormolu Mounted Baccarat Crystal & Dore bronze Double-Handle Centerpiece This centerpiece was produced in France during the 1800s by Baccarat, one of the foremost French crystal manufacturers of the 19th century. The ormolu frame is marked with the circular “BACCARAT” stamp featuring a central carafe flanked by two glasses, confirming its origin. This type of stamp was in use during the late 19th century and is consistent with documented Baccarat ormolu work of that era. The combination of deeply cut crystal and fire-gilded bronze aligns with Baccarat’s high-end production for the French court and elite clientele during the Second Empire and early Third Republic periods. The form is oval with an open, shallow bowl of faceted crystal set into a rigid bronze armature. The crystal body features an allover lozenge pattern of deep-cut diamond facets. The base of the bowl is star-cut from beneath, radiating outward in sharp lines, a characteristic element of Baccarat's cutting techniques during the late 1800s. The crystal rests securely in a thick, ormolu-mounted collar with a fluted exterior frieze and recessed gilt inner rim. Supporting the bowl are four fluted legs in tapering square section, each integrated into the border mount through elaborate looped joints designed as knotted straps. The twin handles are cast in symmetrical scrolls formed as reeded stems wrapped with vine-like vegetal tendrils. The scrolls terminate in volutes and curling acanthus motifs, connecting to the body of the frame just below the rim. Each handle features two branches joined at the base and extending upward in a mirrored curve. The ornamentation continues along the looped feet and side cartouches, which include a central medallion of clustered scrolls. The cast and chased ormolu retains its original gilding, showing the matte and burnished surface contrast that typifies 19th-century Parisian fire-gilt bronze mounts. Baccarat’s production in this period included a wide array of tablewares and decorative items employing both colorless and colored crystal, often combined with richly detailed bronze mounts. This piece reflects the influence of neoclassical design with its fluted legs, laurel-twined handles, and symmetrical structure. The use of deep cutting on the crystal bowl demonstrates Baccarat’s mastery of precision wheel-cutting. Pieces of this type were often sold through high-end retailers and exhibited at international expositions. Dimensions: 9.25" x 1 7" x 5"

Details

Dimensions