Baccarat, Engraved Crystal Centerpiece With Gilt Bronze Mount, Late 19th Century

Baccarat.
Centrepiece on a moulded and acid-etched crystal pedestal, richly decorated with bands of stylised palmettes, foliage and neoclassical interlaced motifs enhanced with gold. It is set within a delicate gilded bronze mount with a beaded frieze, adorned with two movable, gracefully curved side handles with spherical fastenings.
France. Late 19th or early 20th century.
H_11.5 cm D_24 cm
Very good condition.

The prestigious Baccarat manufactory distinguished itself throughout the 19th and 20th centuries by creating centrepieces and table decorations of exceptional craftsmanship. Pieces combining engraved crystal with gilded bronze mounts were particularly prized for the reception tables of the upper middle classes. This piece reflects a refined, eclectic taste, drawing on the ornamental repertoire of Antiquity and the Empire style (palmettes, geometric interlacing) with a sense of visual lightness. The delicate gold highlights harmonise perfectly here with the beaded mount to enhance the crystal’s natural transparency.

This piece follows in the tradition of the prestigious French tableware of the late 19th century, offering a splendid example of the technical virtuosity and timeless elegance associated with Baccarat’s creations.