Cut Crystal Campana Vase With Ormolu Foot c1900

Description

Heading : A fine cut crystal campana shape vase with ormolu doré foot
Date : Late 19th or early 20th century but possibly earlier
Period : French empire style
Origin : French or English or Russian
Colour : Clear with ormolu mounts
Bowl : Pineaapple cut graduated diaminds
Stem : slice cut inverted baluster
Foot : cross cut with broad flat topped diamonds. ormoulu mounts
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 27cm tall.   16cm bowl and 17cm foot
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks
Restoration : None
Weight :  1702 grams

We always admire the capabilities of those who can attribute such items to Baccarat or the French empire period with impunity. This certainly is of French empire style. The pineapple cutting and high quality ormolu is consistent with this. However. even a casual study similar pieces made from 1800 to 1830 will show that the ormolu bases were for the most part less elaborate. indeed plain. The lions paw feet with acanthus leaf adornments are not typical or early 19th century production. they would be an exception.

The glass in this case is also bright and clean. free from inclusions. The cutting was however done by hand. the mitre cut bands above the uppermost field of diamonds does undulate a little and varies in width.

We are also unsure of the origin.This is lead crystal. and in this case that fact conveys little. Baccarat were producing lead crystal vases from the second decade of the 19th century as were FC Oselr in Birmingham so too was the imperial glass factory at St Petersburg and all produced ormolu dore mounted cut crystal campana vases.

In summary we do not know who made this. It is beautiful and although positive attribution would add a significant additional digit to the price we will not be tempted to mislead by mammon.