Baccarat, “eglantier” Pattern. Art Nouveau Sponge Bowl, In Acid-etched Double Crystal.

BACCARAT. Rare and beautiful CUP or SPONGE BOWL, slightly flared in shape, made of multi-layer blown crystal, translucent and lined with pink-ruby (using the overlay technique), with naturalistic decoration engraved and released with acid on a moiré background, of a stylized composition mixing wild rose flowers and scrolls of foliage. The neck of the cup – its upper border – is enhanced with a pink stripe. Inside the cup, on a plain light background, a large, protruding rosette is drawn and cold chiseled. This is the illustrious and very refined “Églantier” model, produced between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century by the Baccarat Manufacture. Art Nouveau period, 1900s. Given the old period, this object does not have a signature (unsigned). The cup is too old (blown crystal, before 1936) to bear an indelible signature. Moreover, very few objects of the “Églantier” model were signed. The model, on the other hand, is very well known, and the work, the quality, the finesse of the crystal and the decoration are characteristic. Finally, we find this object reproduced in various period catalogs of Maison Baccarat, in particular that devoted to Toiletries for the year 1916: we attached its copy to the photos of the advertisement; refer to page no. 16 of the catalog, reference T-507. The object we present here is originally a bowl, a bowl or a sponge bowl. It is generally the central piece of toiletries and bathroom fittings. It is therefore a toiletry object. The object, however, can today be revisited and have several functions: if we can still use it as such (a sponge bowl), we can also see it as a candy bowl, a small salad bowl, a large bowl, a decorative piece... It is a very rare, beautiful and prestigious object, very decorative and of remarkable finesse and refinement. — DIMENSIONS — • diameter of the bowl, at the opening, 16.10 CM; • bowl height, 07.00 CM; • diameter at the base (bottom), 09.80 CM. — CONDITION REPORT — the cup is in excellent general condition; the state of conservation is perfect. The crystal is brilliant, without any alteration or opacification, and the colors are vivid and well preserved. I am simply noting a minor mark of use, characterized by the presence of very fine and discreet scratches on the reverse of the base (under the object), not visible and, really, very weak and without any impact. This is a minor detail. Presence, inside the cut, on the upper border, of a very slight defect, absolutely minimal, illustrated in photo n°4: it is a very small defect, less than 1 millimeter, which, again, has absolutely no impact on the interest of the object. These two points are, really, without any real impact; They are all small, are rarely seen, and really do not alter the object. The object remains very beautiful, and in perfect condition!