Crystal is a regular on party tables in the form of champagne glasses. However, this precious material can be declined in an infinite number of ways. The Baccarat company, considered as the reference of crystal in Europe, is the proof. Let's go back over the history of a Lorraine factory and the excellence of this French savoir-faire.
THE ORIGINS OF BACCARAT CRYSTAL
"France lacks glassware factory and that is why Bohemian products enter in such large quantities, resulting in an astonishing export of money, at a time when the kingdom was in such great need of it", was the observation of Louis Joseph de Montmorency-Laval, bishop of Metz, in 1764. To remedy this situation, he asked King Louis XV for permission to establish a glass factory in Baccarat, Lorraine.
The region's silica-rich soil is ideal for glass production. The presence of numerous forests allows to feed the furnaces of the factories which heat at any time. In order to allow the workers to intervene at the time of glass' fusion, more than 70 families of workers are accommodated within the factory.
Pair of Baccarat crystal girandoles
It is only after the purchase by the industrialist Aimé-Gabriel d'Artigues that the house exploits crystal which makes its current fame. Owner of the glassworks and crystal factories of Vonêche in Belgium, he decided to establish himself in France following treaties in 1815 making the importation complex by the increase of customs. The transformation of Baccarat into a crystal factory was a huge success and in 1817, the factories hired 300 workers.
GLASS OR CRYSTAL?
Thus, Baccarat gave up glassmaking to become a crystal glassworks. The techniques may be similar, but the results are very different. Do you know the difference between glass and crystal?
Originally, the term crystal, from the Greek Krustallos meaning "piece of ice", refers to rock crystal, hyaline quartz, formed by the infiltration of water into the depths of granitic rocks. Its transparency fascinated collectors, who added it to their curiosity cabinets. As early as the 14th century, the term was also used to describe particularly transparent materials.
Glass was already widely used in European courts, but it's crystal that stands out in this new denomination. Both materials are made from silica, but what differentiates them is the amount of lead incorporated into the composition. Crystal traditionally contains between 10 and 32% lead oxide. In Europe, the name is protected by the European Economic Community of 1971, which stipulates that only objects containing more than 24% lead and having a refractive index equal to or greater than 1.545 are considered crystal.
A difference in the quality of the two materials can be observed. The
crystal differs from glass by properties of
refraction of the
light
density and hardness. The more it is concentrated in lead oxide
the more transparent and easy to polish the crystal will be which explains its brilliance. In addition, a glass object will be lighter than a similar
than a similar object in crystal. It is denser and therefore more solid
in spite of popular beliefs. This allows a finer work of the cut and
engraving without the risk of breaking the work.
Detail of engraving on a crystal decanter, circa 1900
But the most recognizable feature for crystal enthusiasts is the clear tinkling sound it makes. This crystalline sound is one of the first characteristics that one thinks of. It depends on the shape, the size and the quality of the work of the glassmaker. Thus a assortment of disparate glasses will be able to give a very beautiful melody to your toasts.
BACCARAT INNOVATIVE HOUSE
During its
development, the Baccarat crystal works has always been at the forefront of creation
to seduce its customers. In 1824, one of the workers, Ismaël Robinet,
invented the
piston air pump. This first mechanical blowing process
allows to spare the breath of the glassmakers. The technique was then adopted by all the other French glass factories. This discovery allows, from 1830,
to adapt the
"pressed and molded" technique already used in the United Kingdom and the United States,
allowing the crystal to be applied in a single jet into the mold. This way, one obtains pieces of determined forms objects much
faster.
Detail of a putti in satin-finish crystal, Baccarat crystal chandelier
In parallel,
we realize glasses in
cut crystal, known as rich size, for a wealthy customers. Facets are realized which underline the play of light and the
purity of the forms. Under the Restoration,decorations in point of diamond
are used to emphasize the brightness of the material. It is sometimes
combined with the engraving on glass which knows a great success. Difficult to
master, it requires great skill leading to the idea of "glass artists" whose pieces are particularly sought after
like those of the engraver Simon.
Eight-light crystal cage chandelier, 19th century period
Other
creation, Baccarat is the first crystal factory in France to present
elements for
crystal chandelier at the National Exhibition of the
product of the French industry
in 1827. On this occasion, it presented
an assortment of pieces that can decorate bronze chandeliers and play with the
the movement of the candle flame. There are tassels,
octagon chains, faceted pearls and dagger motifs which will have a great
success throughout the nineteenth century. For these productions, the house associates with
great names such as the bronzier
Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) who elaborates frames dedicated to these crystal ornaments. Always on the lookout for
new discoveries, in 1870, Baccarat proposes models of electrified chandeliers
with hollow crystal branches to hide the wires.
BACCARAT, EXCEPTIONAL WORK
Baccarat cut crystal jewelry box
The genius of
Baccarat comes from its concern to respond to the growing demand
of glass objects for the
bourgeoisie. At the beginning of the 19th century, the favorable socio-economic context leads this new social category to invent the concept of
conviviality. Prosperous, they meet during dinners and balls
and each household wants to acquire luxurious objects in order to assert their status in society. The crystal is found on all the tables under
forms of
glasses, ewers, and girandoles but also in
but also in more intimate rooms in the form of
jewelry boxes, candle holders
or transposition of rock crystal objects of the XVIth and XVIIth centuries exposed
in the Louvre. Thus, crystal, Baccarat in particular, has become the
reference of luxury in all aspects of the bourgeois life.
The finesse and
exceptional shine of Baccarat pieces leads to a success far beyond
French borders. Called "crystal of kings", Courts all over the world have been buying them since the beginning of the XXth century. After a visit to
Paris in 1900, the
tsar Nicolas III of Russia placed large orders with the
factory. Legend has it that the sovereign threw his crystal glasses over his shoulder
after having emptied them. He wanted to prove the wealth of his country by spending lavishly on these exceptional pieces. To supply him, one of the
of the three furnaces of the Baccarat factory in service was exclusively dedicated to the Russian court. In the 1930s, the
maharajah of
Gwalior
acquired an imposing crystal chandelier for his palace, it was so heavy that the ceiling collapsed at its
installation. This did not discourage the patron who has it rebuilt more solidly, even going so far as to hang an elephant to verify that a new Baccarat chandelier could be installed. Even today, governments still buy crystal services from the Baccarat.
CONCLUSION
Crystal is a symbol of luxury and sophistication. With a history of more than 250 years, the Baccarat factory has helped to make crystal an essential element of decor through its expertise and creativity. Whether in candelabras or tableware, you can't go wrong with a crystal piece that will illuminate your home with its shine.
Discover our collections of crystal objects
Bibliography
- Baccarat: la légende du cristal, Musée du Petit Palais, Paris-Musée, 2014
- Baccarat, Dany Sautot, 1998
