An Unusual Dore Bronze Mounted French Baccarat Opaline Crystal Egg-Form Box

Description

A highly unusual and exquisitely crafted French egg-form covered box, attributed to Baccarat and dating to the mid-to-late 19th century, composed of luminous white opaline crystal and mounted in intricately cast and fire-gilded bronze. The ovoid body is vertically fluted with deeply defined ribs that extend from the tapered foot to the apex of the domed lid, creating a rhythmic architectural profile enhanced by the opaline’s ethereal translucency. The vessel is bisected horizontally at its equator, with the upper and lower halves hinged at the rear and encircled by a continuous gilt bronze band cast with anthemion, palmette, and stylized foliate motifs in shallow relief. This ormolu collar is fitted with a whimsical clasp in the form of a finely modeled right hand, complete with a cuffed sleeve, which locks the box securely closed and underscores its dual function as both practical container and ornamental object. Three scrolling ormolu supports extend from the lower bronze mounts and terminate in outward-facing volutes, lifting the vessel on a tripod base and giving it a light yet stable stance. Additional mounts rise vertically from each foot and connect to the equatorial band, where small ring handles are affixed near the shoulder, further enhancing the piece’s decorative utility. The domed lid is crowned with a bronze medallion insert featuring a raised imperial eagle, a motif emblematic of the Napoleonic revival styles prevalent during the Second Empire. Interior bronze collars line the opening edges, providing both structural reinforcement and a gleaming frame for the opaline interior. The craftsmanship of this piece reflects the high standards of Baccarat opaline production between 1850 and 1880, during which time the firm collaborated with leading Parisian bronziers to mount their glassworks in finely chased dore bronze. The precision of the mounting, the harmony of form and material, and the inclusion of symbolic iconography all suggest a commission of distinction, likely for an aristocratic salon or collector’s cabinet. These boxes were intended not merely as utilitarian containers for jewelry or cosmetics, but as objets de vitrine—luxury decorative items meant to be admired for their design, material, and craftsmanship. This example, with its rare egg-shaped silhouette, playful hand clasp, and imperial symbolism, stands apart as a particularly imaginative and well-preserved piece of 19th-century French decorative art. France, Circa: 1870

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