French Baccarat-Quality Cut Crystal Casket with Gilt Bronze Mounts — circa 1880–1900

French Baccarat-Quality Cut Crystal Casket with Gilt Bronze Mounts — circa 1880–1900   This remarkable French crystal casket epitomizes the refined artistry of the Belle Époque, when Baccarat, Saint-Louis, and Val Saint Lambert produced some of the world’s most luminous glass. Fashioned from exceptionally thick, leaded crystal, the entire surface is cut in an all-over diamond-point motif — a design requiring precision and extraordinary labor to achieve even light dispersion and symmetry. The box radiates with pure, jewel-like brilliance, each facet refracting light into a thousand reflections.   The mountings are of superb quality gilt bronze (ormolu), retaining their original rich doré patina. The border features a crisp egg-and-dart banding — a Neoclassical hallmark of Baccarat’s luxury production — while the lock plate displays scrolling foliage centered on a shielded keyhole. The underside reveals a hand-cut starburst base, an artisanal finishing detail used only on premier examples.   This level of cutting and mount quality points firmly to a Baccarat or Saint-Louis workshop origin, retailed through the prestigious Palais Royal boutiques in Paris as a luxury jewel casket or objet de vitrine. The casket’s weight, clarity, and refractive power distinguish it among the finest of its type.   Details: • Era: Belle Époque, circa 1880–1900 • Origin: France (likely Baccarat or Saint-Louis manufacture) • Materials: Leaded crystal and doré bronze • Design: Deep diamond-point cutting, starburst base, Neoclassical mounts • Condition: Exceptional antique condition; minute wear to gilding; outstanding clarity • Dimensions: Approx. 7.5” tall × 5” wide × 4.5” deep