Punch goblet 1867

The Cristalleries de Baccarat created this punch goblet and glasses using clear and blue-stained glass. The first impression is one of symmetry, with the punch bowl in the center, flanked by the delicate glasses in a semi-circular arrangement. Notice how the clear glass has been stained with blue to create the images and decorative patterns. On the bowl, classical figures are rendered in careful detail, creating a frieze-like composition. These stylized scenes evoke a sense of classical antiquity but are viewed through a lens of 19th-century Romanticism. The repetition of motifs across the set—garlands, faces, and ornamental borders—creates visual harmony but also emphasizes the industrial nature of its production. Baccarat used classical imagery to add prestige to their wares, aligning themselves with established cultural values. This set challenges notions of art and craft, where mass production meets classical ideals.