Monumental Saint Louis Cobalt & Gilt Cut-Crystal Vase, "African Jungle" 19th C

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A monumental late 19th-century cut-crystal vase in two detachable sections, executed by the prestigious Verreries Royales de Saint-Louis, France. This … Read more A monumental late 19th-century cut-crystal vase in two detachable sections, executed by the prestigious Verreries Royales de Saint-Louis, France. This exceptional example of Saint-Louis’s Orientalist decorative production stands 25.5 inches high and measures approximately 6.5 inches in width, and is composed of richly cobalt-cased lead crystal, wheel-cut to reveal clear vertical fluting and faceted reliefs, enhanced with profuse parcel gilding throughout.

The upper baluster-form body is adorned with an elaborate gilded frieze depicting a dramatic jungle scene: a tiger prowls amid dense undergrowth and tall palm fronds while a water buffalo emerges from the brush, rendered in high detail against a richly tooled gilt ground. The reverse reveals further gilded vegetation and tropical flora, suggestive of the exotic landscapes that captivated European artists and craftsmen during the late 19th century. The scene wraps continuously around the barrel, exhibiting a painterly narrative in deep relief. Below this narrative band, the form transitions into a sharply faceted cut-crystal lower section, resting on a paneled base with alternating diamond and teardrop-shaped facets in clear and cobalt crystal. The flared trumpet neck, removable from the vase’s core, is similarly fluted and cut through to clear crystal and rimmed with gilt accents, completing the vertical emphasis of the form.

Signed to the interior of the base with the acid-etched mark Verreries Royales de Saint-Louis, this piece is firmly attributed to the historic French crystalworks which, operating under royal warrant since 1829, remains one of the most celebrated crystal manufacturers in Europe. While unsigned by a specific designer, the highly detailed engraving and rich gilding align with the work of Saint-Louis's elite master-engravers active in the final quarter of the 19th century, when the factory embraced exotic motifs influenced by Japonisme and Orientalist visual culture following the Paris Expositions Universelles.

Comparable vases of this scale and decorative ambition, particularly with rare animal subjects such as tigers and buffalo rather than more conventional cranes or dragons, are exceedingly scarce. This example likely represents a special commission or limited production object intended for exhibition or aristocratic interiors. Its technical virtuosity, sculptural presence, and narrative design distinguish it as one of the more exceptional examples of Saint-Louis’s cut-crystal production of the Belle Époque era. See less