Square green marble plate standing on gilt bronze toupie feet with high gilt bronze rim elaborately decorated with neoclassical lanzetto leaf frieze and foliate vignettes; two side handles in the shape of laurel wreaths with moving bows. In the center of the plate the fixed inkwell of solid quality crystal glass with bronze Empire style mounts, which take up the decoration of the handles again. The lid of the inkwell made of the same green marble as the base plate, crowned with an openwork Empire rosette gilt bronze mount.
The shape and the quality of the work can be compared to the high-end products of the French manufactuy Baccarat, which is the world’s leading manufacturer of crystalware.
Founded in 1764 under the patronage of Louis XV as Renault et Compagnie, the firm became known as the Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat during the 19th century.Baccarat received its first royal commission in 1823. This began a long series of commissions for kings and heads of state around the world. In 1855, Baccarat won its first gold medal at the World’s Fair in Paris. Baccarat first began marking its work with a registered trademark in 1860. The mark was a label placed at the bottom of the work. During the period from 1846 to 1849, Baccarat signed some of their high quality glass millefiori paperweights with the letter B and the date of the year in a compound cane. A special paperweight from 1853 was found under the cornerstone of a bomb-damaged church in Baccarat when construction resumed after World War II. Crystal production expanded its scope during this period, and Baccarat built a worldwide reputation for producing fine stemware, chandeliers, barware and perfume bottles.
Condition: very good, min. wear consistent with age and use, min. fading, 1 corner of rim slightly dented – detailed condition report on request
