A Brief History of the Baccarat Vase
A Baccarat vase can come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and colors. Modern vases, classic vases, bud vases, and colored vases are made by the company. The name Baccarat is world-renowned and consistently associated with wealth, elegance, and splendor. In the world of vases, Baccarat means quality. What is it about a Baccarat vase that demands such name-brand appeal?
Perhaps learning a bit about the history of Baccarat will give us insight into the vase's allure. Baccarat coincidentally began in the little French town of Baccarat over two centuries ago in 1764. A little over half a century later, in 1815, the glassworks expanded from making windows and mirrors and began producing the crystal for which they became renowned. At the time, they already employed 3000 people. Less than a decade after Baccarat began making crystal, King Louis XVIII of France commissioned stemware, an incident that began a long line of royal commissions, both at home and abroad. Even the American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt commissioned Baccarat stemware in 1936. In 1830, Baccarat began gaining international appeal as it started selling its wares to Constantinople, and by 1885, the company had opened up sales posts all over the world from Cambodia to Argentina to the United States. It was in 1948, however, that Baccarat, Inc. opened in New York City and started selling Baccarat items at wholesale prices, cementing the reputation of the brand in America. Finally, in 1984, the company began to conquer the Far East, opening a boutique in Tokyo and later expanding to eleven other locations.
It wasn't just international renown that cemented the reputation of Baccarat. It was a reputation for quality, for being the best glassworks in the world. The company won gold medals at three world fairs held in Paris between 1855 and 1878. In 1907, the most famous perfume-makers, including Coty, Elizabeth Arden, and Dior, turned to Baccarat to make their perfume bottles. Famous names like Georges Chevalier, Salvador Dali, and Barbara Barry have designed for Baccarat. One of Chevalier's chandeliers graces the Sydney's Royal Theatre. Finally, in 1964, an exhibit of Baccarat items was held in the Louvre Museum in Paris in celebration of the company's bicentennial. Baccarat's reputation for quality, however, isn't solely based on associations with famous names. In the crystal works in Paris, in the cold-working workshops, items with even the most microscopic flaws are immediately discarded.
What does the future look like for Baccarat? In the past few decades, Baccarat has begun expanding into jewelry; crystal-studded accessories, such as handbags; and watches. Baccarat innovated glassware with its colorful, exotic Vega collection in 1995, yet turned to simplicity and tradition with its Simplissimes collection in 1999, featuring stunning yet simple items inspired by 1911 designs. Whether it's a modern or classical Baccarat vase that you long to invest in, Baccarat is likely to maintain its name for quality and excellence for many years to come.