French Gilt Rim Glasses from Saint Louis, 1950s, Set of 6

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Description

This set of six crystal glasses is a fine example of the prestigious Thistle Gold collection from Cristallerie Saint-Louis, the … Read more This set of six crystal glasses is a fine example of the prestigious Thistle Gold collection from Cristallerie Saint-Louis, the oldest crystal manufactory in Europe.

Originally created in 1908 for the Nancy Exposition and anglicized as "Thistle" in 1913, this pattern is a hallmark of Art Nouveau elegance.
Each glass is mouth-blown and hand-cut from leaded crystal, a process involving 25 artisans over 25 days.
The wide gold band at the rim is a hand-applied 24-karat gold frieze.
The gold is painted with a fine brush, fired, and then polished with agate stone to fix it permanently and provide a deep, warm luster. The Frieze: the intricate gold-encrusted band features an etched floral motif inspired by the spiky thistle flower.
Optical Cutting: the lower parison (bowl) of the glass features Venetian-style stripes and vertical bevel cuts that create exceptional sparkle and depth when light passes through the crystal.
The base typically includes a star-cut pattern at the bottom, which is a signature element for this style of tumbler.

High-refractive leaded crystal with 24k gold gilding.
These are "Old Fashioned" or "Whiskey" tumblers, noted for their satisfying weight and classic cylindrical silhouette. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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