Rare Crystal Decanter From The Service Of Emperor Napoleon III, Second Empire Period

Rare crystal decanter from the service of Emperor Napoleon III.
Second Empire period.
An individual crystal decanter, certainly for wine, of baluster shape, flared on a circular foot, finely engraved with a foliate garland supported by a beribboned node, the center is ornate with the Imperial cipher of Napoléon III.
Very good condition.
Unidentified French glass factory, 1852-1871.
H. 20,5 cm.

Provenance
Camden Place in Chiselhurst (latest residence of Emperor Napoléon III).

This "carafe" comes from one of the Emperor Napoleon III’s table services, certainly used for official reception and/or Imperial banquets. The rich
ornamentation makes it the most elaborate of all the glass services from the Second Empire.

Literature
La Cave de Joséphine. Le vin sous l'Empire à Malmaison, 2009, RMN, Musée des châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau, cat. 106 and 116, one similar glass reproduced p. 81.

Related works
The Musée national du château de Fontainebleau has bought 11 glasses from this service in 2005 (H. 10 cm). The Musée national du château de
Compiègne owns only 5 glasses from this service (H. 12, 10 and 8 cm), of which one champagne glass (H. 10 cm). Our gallery sold in 2015 3 wine glasses and 3 champagne glasses from this service.