French Crystal by Baccarat
The great French crystal factories of Baccarat (1764)
and Saint
Louis (1586) were both placed under the protection of his patron saint by Louis
XV in the 1760's. Within the next century their cut crystal was among the
finest made. The art glass of Galle, Lalique (1909),
Daum
(1889) added to France's reputation. Lead crystal is made of
sand, potash and lead fired at high temperatures, then mouth-blown, molded or
machine made. Full lead crystal ("invented" in France in 1781
by Saint Louis) must contain at least 24% lead oxide which gives it
brilliance, weight and clarity. Quality is determined by the method (hand
or machine), detail of design and finish (cut, etched, engraved). It can be decorated
with color by adding oxides or minerals, paint (applied by hand and refired),
silk screening (ceramic paint), frost (sandblasting, acid), and hand cutting
(vs. molded design). Cutting produces grooves with sharp angles that
increase light-reflecting surfaces adding sparkle. Go to:
Lalique Crystal, Baccarat Crystal,
Hommage à René Lalique
Clear full-lead crystal. Handcrafted in France
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Buddha on Lacquer Base by Baccarat
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Baccarat Labradors
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| Designed by Kenzo Takada for the "Lights of Asia" Collection |
Labrador Retrievers, with their agile bodies, strong jaws, and short
coats began helping Newfoundland's fisherman some 200 years ago. The
dogs often towed in nets of cod where the waters were too rough for
boats. Baccarat celebrates the much-loved breed with these handcrafted
crystal sculptures. France |
Since 1921 Lalique has, from its factory in Alsace,
France, produced some of the world's finest works of crystal, pieces that
resonate both with the contemporary and the traditional eye.
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Lalique Fleurs Perfume Bottle
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Panda, Black by Lalique
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Beautiful lead crystal perfume bottle of two fleurs. |
A Chinese proverb says: what is rare is precious. This is also true
of the animal kingdom: the panda, because of its rareness, is an emblem
of China. With dark eyes and black and white suit, this very rare
animal, extremely discreet, lives in the Chinese bamboo forests. The
Panda figurine is to honor this protected species. The purity of the
satin finished crystal added to the depth of the black color brings
light to the chiseled details of the fur and the softness of his
endearing gaze |
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| Tambwee Lion Cubs, Black by Lalique
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Bamara Lion, Black by Lalique
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| Lalique invites you to the African world to celebrate the birth of
the Tambwee lion cubs. Still clumsy and mischievous, these 2 young cubs
will some day rule the lions land. Fashioned in black crystal, the
Tambwee cubs huddle against each other. These crystal cubs are the
symbol of fraternity |
In 1987, a satin crystal feline joins Lalique vast animal kingdom: a
majestic and vigorous lion, king of the jungle, symbol of power and
will. His name, Bamara, means lion in an African dialect. In 2009,
Lalique re-imagines this piece in black crystal |
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| Sitting Tiger Small, Clear by Lalique
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Anemone Flower, Black by Lalique
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| Chinese astrology is founded on astronomical, religious and calendar
notions. Its 12 symbolic animals have been progressively adopted by many
countries culture. The Tiger is the third animal in the Chinese
calendar. He is described as courageous, impulsive and solitary. This
animal, both proud and haughty, has the power and grace of the great
felines. Symbol of strength and virility, the Sitting Tiger in clear
crystal, tamed by the glass masters, is now part of Lalique vast animal
kingdom |
A delicate flower, symbol of purity and innocence, the anemone
inspired Rene Lalique in this 1931 design, originally in glass. Brought
back in clear crystal, the anemone now comes in a deep black color,
decorated with hand applied white enamel. A dream vision of crystal,
both romantic and contemporary, that shows that nature and modernity can
be harmonized when fashioned by the hands of artists |
In 2010, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of René
Lalique’s birth in 1860, LALIQUE created the “Hommage à René Lalique”
collection. In this collection, Lalique re-examines and reinterprets iconic
glass creations of Rene Lalique.
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| Hommage à René Lalique "Bacchantes" Vase, Grey
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Hommage à René Lalique "Sirene" Bowl, Clear
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| René Lalique’s boundless imagination and creative genius lead to the
creation of the Bacchantes vase, created in 1927, displaying young
priestesses of Bacchus offering their voluptuous beauty and curves. This
vase has become a lasting symbol of Lalique's celebrated style and
remains a top seller throughout the world. Its meticulous detailing,
carved by the hand of a craftsman, adds a playful use of light and
dimension |
Some nights, in the moonlight, sirens play and dance in the waves.
At dawn, they hide from men. One morning, one of them, curious to see
daylight, dawdled and the first sun rays froze her in the crystalline
dew. Gracious, slender and feminine, she spreads her hair gathered with
water pearls, revealing her stunning beauty. The Sirene Bowl was first
created in 1920 |
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| Hommage à René Lalique "Beauvais" Vase
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Hommage à René Lalique "Boulouris" Vase
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| The Beauvais vase, created in 1931, is reissued in clear crystal.
The manufacturing process truly requires the technical expertise of more
than 10 glass masters. It is particularly difficult to shape the
openwork crystal volutes and decorate both sides of the parison. To
obtain the contrast of satin-finished and shiny crystal, characteristic
of Lalique, the glass masters, as sculptors of light, detailed by hand
each detail of the vase. The beauty of the artist-craftsman’s motions
serves his search for excellence |
The visual for the Boulouris vase was imagined by Rene Lalique in
1933 and inspired by the sun-drenched, perfume scented city of Boulouris,
located on the Cote d’Azur |
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| Hommage à René Lalique "Vitesse" Paperweight
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Hommage à René Lalique "Hirondelles" Flacon
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| Created in 1929 by René Lalique, the “Vitesse”radiator cap is one of
his most beautiful mascots. As an allegory of speed, this woman figure
takes life in the satin-finished and shiny crystal. In 1925, Rene Lalique
started the design of 27 car Mascots out of glass for the prestigious
vehicles of time. The Vitesse is one of the most stunning of these
figurines and is eagerly sought after today by collectors throughout the
world |
Dancing and twirling swallows (hirondelles) have always been a part
of the Lalique’s aesthetic. Aligned with the light of the crystal, these
birds are synonymous with sheer refinement. Rene Lalique, creator of
modern perfumery, created the “Trois Hirondelles” perfume bottle in
1920. |
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| Hommage à René Lalique "Cote D'Or" Bowl
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Hommage à René Lalique "Avallon" Vase
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| Carved with nude figures and bunches of grapes, the Cote d'Or bowl
(1943) refers to a mythological theme recurring in René Lalique’s work:
the celebration of Bacchus. Exhibiting unashamed beauty and sensuality,
the young priestesses of Bacchus offer their voluptuous curves. A true
ode to femininity, this trio is emblematic of Lalique's style |
The Avallon vase is reissued in clear crystal from the original 1927
design featuring birds indulging in abundant sweet grapes while the vine
creates the exceptional rhythm of this composition. This vase takes us
into a dreamlike state and a poetic universe |
Glassmaker Jean Daum, the
French crystallerie known for exotic colors and sinuous lines, began shaping
glass in 1878, creating flowing vessels and figures that symbolized Art Nouveau.
Memorable gifts. Each piece is made
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finely etched details typical of pâte de verre, in which ground crystal
is formed into a paste, placed in a mold, and then fired, an ancient glass paste
technique used by the Egyptians to make jewelry and amulets and re-introduced by
the House of Daum in the early 20th century. Made in France.
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| Daum Bengal Tiger
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Daum Pate de Verre Crystal Cheetah
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| A magnificent Bengal tiger - jaws open in a mighty roar - is
portrayed with grace and power in this crystal sculpture produced using
the ancient pâte de verre technique. Artists at the celebrated
Daum studio in France begin by creating a mold of the lithe cat using
the intricate lost-wax method |
Taut with curiosity, this lithe, big cat gazes over her shoulder.
Made in France by Daum |
Saint Louis crystal. The glassworks of Saint Louis have
been crafting the finest crystal coveted by kings, emperors, heads of state, and
connoisseurs since 1586. In the province of Lorraine, on the eastern border of
France, a region graced with rich sands and expansive forests, Saint Louis
flourished. Louis XV
placed it under the protection of his patron saint in 1767. Supported by this
abundance of natural resources, they were the first to perfect lead crystal in
1781, then being recognized as a crystallerie. They played a central role in the
golden age of the 19th century, with major technical and ornamental innovations,
all of which are still represented in current pieces. For over 400 years, Saint
Louis has continued to hand blow each piece, passing on the technique from
generation to generation. Expertly crafted hand cut leaded crystal radiates
light achieving exceptional brilliance on each unique piece. Fine design and
engraving are enhanced by the precision of the artist’s brush. Due to its
delicate nature, hand washing is recommended.
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