Style Other / Ref.12937

CRISTALLERIE DE CLICHY (attributed to), Three-pieces crystal and gilt bronze set, second half of the 19th century

The execution of this set from the second half of the 19^th century is attributed to the Clichy glassworks (1842-1895).

Founded in 1844, the Clichy-la-Garenne glassworks quickly established itself at the beginning of the Second Empire as one of the most important French manufacturers in the production of crystal. Its numerous participations in the Universal Exhibitions that marked the second half of the 19^th century were constantly crowned with success, and its innovations allowed it to contribute to numerous technological and scientific developments until its furnaces were shut down in 1895. The factory did not sign the works produced in its workshops, and the label indicating their origin has often disappeared.

This garniture consists of a bowl and two vases made of transparent crystal adorned with a delicate gilt bronze mount. The bowl blooms into a large corolla, while the vases resemble the shape of a bindweed flower, characteristic of the glassworks' production. The crystal creations are set in fine gilt bronze mounts: from a flower emerge long shoots forming the handles of the bowl and vases; their upward movement is accompanied by dolphins whose heads rest on a rocky base. The mount thus incorporates motifs characteristic of the Rocaille style, while the dolphins seem inspired by those adorning the Triton fountain executed by Bernini in Rome in 1642-1643. The quality of the chiseling and its delicacy highlight the richness of this composition, offering a beautiful glimpse of the production of the French luxury industry in the second half of the 19^th century.

A very beautiful pair of ruby red crystal ornamental vases, also featuring a gilt bronze mount (attributed to the Barbedienne house), was exhibited at the glassworks' stand during the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878. Today, one vase of this pair is preserved at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.