History of the World Renowned Baccarat Crystals
Baccarat crystals are fine antiques surviving the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. But where did it all start?
Baccarat is a small village located in the east of France in Lorraine. Baccarat crystals became the known product in this small town from then on. It was an industry popularized by a man named Bishop Montmorency-Laval. There are also other contributors to the flourish on baccarat crystal manufacturing. Baccarat crystals also flourished because of the Verrerie de Saint Anne because of their myriad pieces with different uses - baccarat crystal bottles, glassware, table wares, and vases. Another old (probably the oldest) influential manufacturer of Baccarat crystals is the Compagnie des Cristalleris de Baccarat Muerthe et Moselle. Also is the Verrerie dela Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint Louis. Their specialties are layered dark shade crystal glasses and engraved ones. Engraved pieces are specialties either of Galle himself, artist Nicholas, or Maurice Defrene.
Soon enough baccarat crystals became popular in the north because of Aime-Gabriel D'Artigues who purchased the Baccarat Glassworks Company and made business without paying large import taxes. The new company became known as the Vennoche Baccarat, specializing in lead crystal glass items. When D'Artigues sold the company in 1822, the new owners renamed it as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Its historical fame didn't change though because the firm remains competitive till these days garnering several awards along the way.
Only among the finds you can own are ornate stemwares, ornamental pieces , and even architectural pieces. There are also heavy prismed decorations and pure crystals. A. Bullet and G. Chevalier baccarat crystals have a certain vitality to it. That is because the techniques used in making these baccarat crystals have far surpassed the limitations of plain glass manufacturing. Baccarat crystal artists also have a unique and contemporary way of cutting and preserving their crystals.
Back at the original supplier of baccarat crystals - Baccarat, crystal paperweights have the most appeal. Among their tablewares, the most famous are their 19th century colored lead crystal glasses and opaline ones. Also popular are miniature lead crystal animals and sculpted birds, as well as decorative decanters and ornate bottles.
In the 1800's embedding cameo sulfides in baccarat crystal paperweights became popular. Other baccarat crystal glass paperweights are made using a different technique of embedding millefiori canes. It is a technique known in Bohemia and/or Venice. These are very triumphant in the 1840's.
Baccarat crystals could be considered as standing jewelries, fine jewelries ornate in design and rich in history.