Baccarat Empire Cut Crystal Glass Vases W Gilt Bronze Griffon Heads 19th Century

Rare Baccarat type crystal glass framed with finest ormolu bronze mountings of foliage at base and stylized griffons as handles. Note an unusual asymmetric design to central vase. This certainly is of French empire style. The hand engraving of the vases is done in a very sophisticated and elegant manner. Excellent bronze work: high-quality casting and subsequent chasing with gilding. The vases have a square base and a also gilded bronze frame. Baccarat were producing lead crystal vases from the second decade of the 19th century as were FC Oselr in Birmingham so too was the Imperial Glass Factory at St. Petersburg and all produced gilt bronze mounted cut crystal campana vases. Presumably these vases were also made by the Imperial Glass Factory, St. Petersburg (Russia) at the end of the 19th century. Come all 3 as beautiful ensemble. All such items can be said to be the only ones in world. This is due to the fact that they were made in small batches and by hand. Comes from a private collection of Russian emigrants of noble origin.
Size app.: 30 cm (roughly 12 in) tall central vase and 24 cm (roughly 9 in) smaller pair. Very good condition, age wear, some rubbing to gold, perhaps the presence of small microscopic chips. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual items may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 5 kg is going to measure some 10 kg packed for shipment.
Russian glass is very rare: Because of the numerous wars that occurred on the territory of Russia. Also Bolsheviks didn't like beautiful decorative items created in imperial Russia and crashed them every time they had opportunity. On the other hand, Russian tradition welcomes to break some glass as it brings happiness. So not much glass items survived in these hard-severe circumstances.