A Brief History of Baccarat Crystal

The term crystal, as applied to glass, dates back to the early 1300s in Murano Italy. Glass cutters there developed intricate glass cutting techniques which often gave the glass a "crystalline" shape, resembling a cut gemstone. When pertaining to cut glass, the term "crystal" is a misnomer. Glass is technically classified as an amorphous, inorganic solid that lacks a true crystalline structure.

The art and science of cutting glass continued to progress over the next few centuries, as various technological improvements enabled the glass cuts to become more intricate. In the 1700s, lead oxide was introduced into the smelting of glass which made the glass more workable and boosted its index of refraction, creating a more brilliant product. This effect was heightened when the glass was cut into facets at different angles, causing light to split into its constituent wavelengths, creating rainbows of colors that closely resemble a "crystalline" material. So as a matter of tradition as well as marketing, the term "crystal" has been retained by glass makers such as Waterford and Baccarat.

Baccarat Glass dates back to 1765 when the Bishop of Metz wanted to stimulate commerce in the little village of Baccarat, some 250 East of Paris. The Verrerie de Sainte Anne at Baccarat was created. It successfully manufactured all kinds of utility glassware and prospered for many years, surviving even the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars.

In 1815, during the aftermath of the Napoleonic War, the French border reverted to its 1790 boundary line. The great French glassworks at Voneche in Northern France found itself outside the new French frontier in the newly created country of Belgium. The owner of Voneche, a Parisian named Aime-Gabriel D'Artigues, bought the Baccarat glassworks so that he could re-establish his business in France and continue to serve French customers without paying heavy import taxes. There is a story that he struck a deal with the King of France to reduce his import taxes from Voneche in return for setting up again in France.

The new company, Voneche-Baccarat, focused on high quality lead-crystal glass and over the past 180 years Baccarat has developed many new techniques in making the finest crystal glass. In 1822 D'Artigues sold the glassworks and the new owners set up the Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat (keeping Voneche as part of the name until 1843). It soon became and remains today, the foremost glassworks in France. The company won medals at major exhibitions in Paris from 1823 onwards.

Baccarat is famous for its wonderful paperweights, its superb crystal glass tableware, for 19th century colored lead crystal glass and opaline ware, for beautiful decanters and bottles, and for superb lead crystal sculptures of animals and birds. The Bohemian/Venician technique of embedding millefiori canes (multi-colored glass mixtures) was taken over by Baccarat in the 1840s and their lead crystal glass paperweights with millefiori designs surpass anything produced in that period from Bohemia or Venice.

The technique of embedding cameo sulphides in paperweights was raised to a fine art by Baccarat in the early 19th century, and continues to be used today. The sulphides give the glass a distinctive rose colored tint. This technique creates eye catching results; as many people have never seen glass reflect light in such a way.

The town of Baccarat is clearly proud of its famous glasswork heritage, and its glass industry not only brings in tourists, but is the cornerstone of the local economy. Moreover, the Baccarat company is renown for creating great working conditions for its employees. All things considered, Baccarat Crystal lives up to its legend.

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