- 108
Cristallerie de Baccarat
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- 'Chimère' Ewer, circa 1878
- crystal
- 35.5 cm. (14 in.)
blown and wheel-engraved crystal
Literature
Jean-Louis Curtis, Baccarat, London, 1992, p. 160
Condition
Overall excellent condition with very faint surface scratches throughout.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Designed for the Exposition Universelle in 1878, this ewer, in the form of a chimera, takes its form from a previous model which Baccarat presented the previous year at the Exposition Universelle. Originating from Greek mythology, the chimera is a hybrid creature of a goat’s body, a dragon’s tail, and a lion’s head, and was a popular creature employed in the decorative arts during the 16th century.
The 19th century witnessed a renewed interest in the Renaissance, in which objects were adorned with arabaseques, cartouches and grimacing figures. The offered lot, with its slender form, is evocative of the blown glass of the Venetian Renaissance, of which surviving examples exist. A relatable ewer attributed to Giovanni Battista Metellino is in the permanent collection of the Louvre, Paris, accession no. MR 301.