Ref.13223
Fireback depicting saint Hubert in the forest

This fireback was made of cast iron in the 19th century. It is adorned with a scene depicting saint Hubert. Born in the French nobility, they say he was so passionate about hunting that he forgets his duties. One day that he pursuing a stag in the forest, he heard : "Hubert ! Until when are you going to pursue beasts in the forest ? Until when does this vain passion will make you forget the salvation of your soul ? ". As he was kneeling, the voice keeps going "Go to Lambert, my bishop, in Maastricht and convert yourself." Hubert is in the majort part depicting kneeling in front of a drag with a cross above its head as we can see on our fireback.

Ref.11451
BACCARAT, Pair of square vases with cherry blossoms and birds, circa 1880

The great transparency of the crystal highlights the fine gold enameled decoration executed on the surface of the vases. Their square shape is characteristic of the manufacture's production at that time. Founded under Louis XV, the French crystal factory Baccarat demonstrated its excellence at Universal Exhibitions throughout the 19th century. On the vases, two cherry trees in bloom respond to each other in axial symmetry. One is covered in leaves, while the other is only flowered. The very fine details of the decoration are executed in relief. The influence of Japonism is perceptible in the choice of iconography and in the execution of the decor. The Baccarat crystal factory, innovative in its early embrace of Japonism, created a free-standing bottle between 1880-1890 in blown crystal, kept at the Musée d'Orsay. Its enameled and gold-rimmed decorations on the transparent crystal are the result of work identical to that of this vase. Baccarat also designed a vase very close to ours in form and in the implementation of the technique, with a turtle decoration of eminently Far Eastern inspiration.