Unusual Baccarat Opaline Vase Pair with Flamingos, c.1880

Flamingos are not a bird one usually associates with Baccarat, but I have actually seen the motif used on several other Baccarat opaline pieces from this era. They are exotic birds, and they fit into the European love of the exotic during the 1860's-1890's. The deep patches of color on these vases were done to replicate a Japanese style of pottery glaze, an example of which is seen in image 4. As I have mentioned in my other Baccarat posts here, there was a huge interest in the Far East during this time period, and European decoration inspired by Japanese art is referred to as 'Japonisme'. Baccarat was one of the first manufacturers in Europe to embrace this style, starting at the 1867 Paris International Exposition.

These vases are made from high quality opaline glass in a shape that was often used by Baccarat, and measure 8" (20.3cm) tall. They have large and finely polished pontils, as is typical of these pieces.