Bottle in Crystal, France, Sign Baccarat France

About the Item

Baccarat Created under the reign of Louis XV, the crystal manufactory owes its international reputation to its participation all along the 19th century and until 1937 to the important exhibitions. It’s during this period that the factory illustrates itself to the eyes of the world by the excellency of its production and its continue innovation research, winning each time medals. Its creation influences the other European glass and crystal factories during the following decades and giving the way for the techniques and stylistic models. The technical innovations Indeed, from 1824, the crystal cutter's workshop is furnished with a hundred of wheels working thanks to the hydraulic energy and not anymore with the only feet strength of the cutters. Thus, Baccarat is the first French crystal factory to adopt this system from England. On the same year, a glass maker from the crystal factory, Ismaël Robinet, has the idea to link one of the stick’s end to an air compressor pump. This process is then taken by many crystal factories and makes its inventor win a gold medal and a pension for life by Baccarat. Nevertheless, this innovation is replaced in the early 1830’s by a new technique from the United States. From 1839, the wheel engraving doesn’t stop to develop because of an important commercial success of its decorations, obliging Baccarat to search for ways to produce more and for less money. Thus, the crystal factory buys in 1865, the process of engraving with a Hydrofluoric acid bath, invented by the chemist L. Kessler, and immediately uses it in its production, allowing them to produce less expensive elaborated decors. It’s also at Baccarat that one of the main problem met during the creation of the crystal is solved: the obtaining of a material perfectly transparent, without any trace of coloration. This solution is found by the engineer François-Eugène de Fontenay, who decides in 1840 to replace the Manganese oxide by the Nickel oxide. True leap in the crystal industry, this new method permits the crystal factory to win a gold medal during the Exposition des produits de l’industrie française in 1844. Finally, it’s also at Baccarat that the most beautiful colored crystal are invented, of which the multiple shades make them win another Gold medal during the Exposition des produits de l’Industrie française in 1839 and eclipse the competition from Bohemia, which had the techniques most elaborated until this date. Among the most famous colors we can name the Agatha Green and the Celeste Blue created in 1842, or even the pink and the Ruby Red, invented in 1847 and the numerous green shades like the Emerald green of the Parrot green. The World Fairs Baccarat, as many other French industry, refuses to participate to the first World Fair taking place in London in 1851, by fear of a potential competition and by opposition to any ideas of free exchange. One has to wait four years later, when the second event is organized in Paris, for the factory to exhibit two huge candelabrum, being more than 5m high and each holding a bouquet of 90 candles, and an exceptional chandelier by its size (5m x 3m) lightened up with 140 candles playing with the thousands of pendants. Baccarat wins there the Grande médaille d’honneur and is then put at the head of the European crystal maker factories. During its second participation at the 1867 event in Paris, Baccarat displays a monumental fountain of more than 7m high, two vases engraved by Jean-Baptiste Simon, and many sets, cups, vases and chandeliers. Baccarat wins the highest reward, the Grand Prix and its administrator Emile Godard-Desmaret, is made Officier de la Légion d’Honneur. During the 1878 World Fair in Paris, the master piece of the crystal factory is a rotunda temple containing a flying Hermes in silvered bronze from a sculpture by Giambologna bought by the King of Portugal Don Louis in 1892. They also exhibit a series of chandeliers copied from 16th century originals conserved in the Louvre museum, for which the critic will reproach a lack of creativity. Yet, some Middle East and Japan inspired pieces were already exhibited, announcing a stylistic evolution. Even though the opinion were divergent, Baccarat again wins the Grand Prix. Baccarat does not directly participate to the 1900 World Fair but is presented in the Social economic section and wins two Grands Prix for the work salary and the foresight institutions. Nevertheless, the Parisian store « Le Grand Dépôt »¹ also called « Palais des Arts et du Feu » presents during the fair two sumptuous crystal pieces. They are two huge boats adorned with bronze, sculpted by Charles Vital-Cornu, symbolizing the city of Paris. One of them is today in the Corning Museum of Glass, the other among the pearls of an Indian palace in Bikaner. The commercial adaptation The second half of the 19th century is marked by many politic disruptions that are generating an economical life particularly unsteady to which Baccarat has to adapt. In the late 1850’s, the structuring of Paris encourages the bourgeoisie to build buildings and private mansions which provoke an increase of the chandeliers and table sets orders in the factory. During the Second Empire, Baccarat benefits from the World Fairs and importantly increases the export sales, then they arrange a careful politic for the production and stock management between 1874 and 1914 allowing the crystal making factory to resist all along the disturbance of the last quarter of the 19th century. In 1908, rooms adjoining the store are equipped to cope with the modernization of the chandeliers linked with the development of the electricity, according to the wish expressed during the administration council: « We don’t have the possibility to show to the buyers the electric chandeliers in conditions that allow them to judge the different effects in the space they’ll be set. This gap harms the sale and we wanted to fill it by installing rooms of similar dimensions of the ones we can find on the bourgeois apartments. » The signature The crystal maker factory’s production is very rarely signed between 1764 and 1860, year during which appear the first stuck paper labels depicting a carafe, a wine glass and a tumbler. Unfortunately, few are still present on the pieces produced during this period as once the object was bought, the label was usually taken off. In 1875, the stamp with the factory’s name appears on some molded models and the bronze parts. From the 1920’s the perfume bottles are always signed but we truly have to wait for 1936 for the “BACCARAT” mark accompanied with a carafe and two glasses to appear on the whole production except the chandeliers. Indeed, it’s only from 1997, that all the chandeliers are distinguished by a pearl made of red crystal. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the style for sale. Why are there so many antiques in Argentina? In the 1880 – 1940 there was a grate wave of immigration encouraged by the periods of war that were taking place. 1st World War took place between 1914 and 1918 2nd World War took place between 1939 and 1945 The immigrants options were New York or Buenos Aires. Tickets were cheap and in Buenos Aires they were welcomed with open arms, as it was a country where everything was still to be done. Argentina was the country of new opportunities, labour was needed and religious freedom was assured, in many cases the of the family travel first until they were settled and then the rest of the family members join them. In the immigrant museum “Ellis Island Immigrant Building” in New York you can se the promotional posters of the boats that would take them to a new life. Between the years 1895 and 1896, Argentina had the highest DGP (gross domestic product) per capita in the world according to the Maddison Historical Statistics index, this situation arose due to the large amount of food being exported to European countries, which were at war. The Argentinean ships left the port of Buenos Aires with food, but they returned with furniture, clothes and construction elements, (it´s common to see this the old buildings of the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo, the beams with the inscription “Made in England)”, as well as many markets that were built in Buenos Aires, such us the San Telmo Market, whose structure was brought by ship and afterwards assembled in 900 Defensa Street. With the great influence of European immigrants living in the country, the children of the upper classes travelled to study in France, resulting in the inauguration of “La Maison Argentinienne”, on 27th of June 1928, in the international city of Paris, which hosted many Argentinians that were studying in Frace. It´s the fourth house to be built after France, Canada and Belgium, being the first Spanish-speaking one. Still in place today (17 Bd Jourdan, 75014, Paris, France). Many of the children of these wealthy families who attended international art exhibitions, museums and art courses abroad, took a keen interest in the European style. This is why Buenos Aires was at the time referred as “The Paris of South America”. Between the years 1890 and 1920 more than a hundred Palaces were built on Alvear Avenue the most exclusive avenue in Buenos Aires. Today some of these palaces have been transformed into museums, hotels and embassies. In the year 1936, the Kavanagh building was inaugurated, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in South America. During 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers distinguished it as an “international engineering milestone”, and it´s now considered a World Heritage of Modern Architecture. At the time was common to hire foreign architects such as Le Corbusier, who visited Buenos Aires/Argentina in 1929 and in 1948 he drew up the blueprints for a house built in La Plata City (which was declared a World Heritage Site). In 1947, the Hungarian architect Marcelo Breuer designed “Parador Ariston” in the seaside city of Mar del Plata. After an Argentinean student at Harvard University convinced him to come to Argentina. He worked on an urban development project in the Casa Amarilla, area of La Boca. The Ukrainian architect, Vladimiro Acosta, arrives in Argentina in 1928 and worked as an architect until que moved to Brazil. Antonio Bonet, a Spanish architect who worked with Le Corbusier in Paris, arrives in Argentina in 1937, where he carried out several architectural works and in 1938 designs the well-known BFK chair. Andres Kálnay, of Hungarian origin, made around 120 architectural masterpieces, among which the former Munich brewery stands out, he even made the furniture’s design. The German architect, Walter Gropius, director of the Bauhaus, lived in Argentina, where he wrote articles for “Sur” magazine and founded in Buenos Aires, an architectural firm with Franz Möller, who was also an architect, where he built two houses. At the same time several famous designers decided to immigrate to Argentina, among them we can find the well-known French designer, Jean-Michel Frank, who arrived in the country in 1940 and also worked for the Rockefeller family. Special pieces were made, which were sold exclusively in the country, such as the well-known German company “WMF”, who sold their products by catalogue, which were chosen by the ladies of high society in the list of wedding gifts, as well as the pieces designed by Christofle. The Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, made special pieces for Argentinean mansions. In 1904 the first Jansen branch outside Paris was established in Buenos Aires, as the Argentinean clientele demanded a large amount of furniture, from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. In 1970, the brand Rigolleau Argentina made pieces authorised by Lalique. The brands Maple and Thompson also set up shop in the country. The French plastic artist, Marcel Duchamp moved to Argentina in 1918-1919. Glass signed Gallé, Charder, Leverre, Schneider, Muller and other French firms. They were bought in flower shops and were given to ladies with beautiful floral arrangements. Some furniture manufacturers travelled to international fairs and bough the patterns to produce the furniture in Argentina, such as the furniture firm Englander and Bonta, who bought the patterns ins Italy. It is worth mentioning that in Argentina we have the largest community of Italians outside of Italy, as it is estimated that 70 percent of the inhabitants have at least one Italian descendant, followed by Spanish immigrants. The most Important furniture stores in Argentina: Comte is founded in 1934 (under the direct management of Jean Michel Frank in 1940). Nordiska (Swedish company established in 1934). Churba in 1960, a company that brought foreign designers to present their furniture in the country: Denmark: (Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Bender Madsen, Ejner Larsen, Poul Kjaerholm, Hans Wegner) Sweden: (Hans Agne Jakobsson, Gustavsberg) United States: (Herman Miller) Finland: (Lisa Johansson, Folke Arstrom, Tapio Wirkkala, Alvar Aalto, Timo Sarpaneva) Swedish Factory: (Orrefors) Italy: (Littala, Vico Magistretti, Emma Gismondi, Gae Aulenti, Angelo Mangiarotti, Elio Martinelli, Gianna Celada, Angelo Mangiarotti, Mario Bellini, Carlo Scarpa) Finland: (Olivia Toikka) Plata Lappas (Lappas Silver): a goldsmith shop founded in 1887 in Argentina by Alcibiades Lappas of Greek origin. In 2019, in Argentina took place “the Art Deco world congress”, in which we participated as hosts invited by Geo Darder, founder of the Copperbridge – Foundation, in which prominent people from all over the world attended to learn about Art Deco in Argentina. Argentina currently has more than 100 Art Deco buildings and another 90 Art Nouveau buildings throughout the city of Buenos Aires. Argentina is a country that has not been involved in many wars, which is why it has been a refuge for works of art and antiques from different periods of time, unlike European countries. That is way many collectors, museums and antique dealers from all over the world visit it, you should not miss the opportunity to visit this great country. Laura Guevara Kjuder, architect.

Dimensions:

Height: 10.16 in (25.8 cm)Diameter: 4.34 in (11 cm)

Style:

Art Deco (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Crystal

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

1930-1939

Date of Manufacture:

1936