Baccarat Museum, Gilt-bronze Mounted Cut-crystal Perfume Flask, Napoleon III Period

Ceremonial perfume bottle in cut crystal with twisted ribs and stars, mounted in richly chased gilt bronze comprising a pierced domed lid, two scrolled lateral handles, and a circular base adorned with a fluted frieze resting on small feet.
Paris. Napoleon III period.
H_23 cm
Very good overall condition.

In the 19th century, the Baccarat manufactory established itself as the ultimate symbol of luxury and excellence in French crystal-making. Its pieces fitted with chased and gilt bronze mounts are distinguished by remarkable technical perfection and incomparable brilliance, highly sought after by the aristocracy and European courts.

This piece belongs to the high prestige production of Baccarat crystal, as evidenced by the “Baccarat Museum” mark on the reverse. This exceptional signature attests to the heritage character and extreme quality of execution of this piece, conceived on the model of historic creations preserved or issued from the archives of the manufactory’s museum. The subtle alliance of sharp crystal cutting and finely chased bronze mount makes it a remarkable testament to the skill of master glassmakers and Parisian bronze workers under the Second Empire.

The “Baccarat Museum” mark confers on this piece a particularly distinguished heritage and museum value. It identifies the most emblematic archive models of the crystal works, reproduced in very limited numbers or reserved for exceptional collections. The simultaneous presence of complex crystal cutting (hollow ribs and engraved stars) and a highly refined gilt-bronze silversmith mount underscores that this is a major work, representative of the golden age of 19th-century French decorative arts.