Art Nouveau Floral Acid-Etched Centerpiece Attributed St. Louis, France C 1900

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Description

Art Nouveau ∧ Acid-Etched Centerpiece Attributed to St. Louis, France, circa 1900s

Two Pieces: Art Glass Bowl and Ormolu Base

… Read more Art Nouveau ∧ Acid-Etched Centerpiece Attributed to St. Louis, France, circa 1900s

Two Pieces: Art Glass Bowl and Ormolu Base

An exceptional Art Nouveau centerpiece attributed to Cristallerie Saint Louis, France, circa 1900. This elegant unsigned work is composed of frosted acid-etched glass with raised and polished gilt decoration, supported on a finely cast ormolu base with scroll feet and cross bracing. The piece reflects the luxurious craftsmanship and design sensibility associated with St. Louis during the Belle Époque.

The elongated oval bowl features an undulating, lobed rim, hand-polished and gilded, enclosing a body with a “glace” or chipped ice texture that diffuses light beautifully. The surface is decorated with stylized hazel branches and flowering seed pods rendered in shimmering gilded relief, created through a cut-back acid etching technique that contrasts matte and polished textures. This painterly naturalism is characteristic of the French Art Nouveau movement.

The detachable ormolu bronze mount features four finely detailed acanthus-form feet, with scrolling motifs echoing Louis XV design. A structural crossbar supports the bowl internally and ensures its stability when displayed.

Though unsigned, the quality of the acid etching, gilding, and mount design is strongly consistent with the work of Saint Louis or Baccarat and likely originates from a high-end boutique or exhibition piece produced between 1895 and 1910.

Techniques & Materials:
• Free-blown acid-etched glass
• Raised and polished gilt decoration
• Frosted “glace” (chipped ice) texture
• Gilt-bronze ormolu base, cast and chased

Dimensions:
• Overall: 12” W × 8” H × 6” D
• Glass bowl: 12” L × 6” H × 5” D
• Ormolu base: 11” L × 6.5” W × 2” H

Provenance and Attribution:
Attributed to Cristallerie Saint Louis, a leading French glassmaker known for its masterful gilded and acid-etched pieces in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Comparable pieces are found in exhibition catalogs and auction archives, including similar models held by Baccarat and Daum during the same period. See less