The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite lifestyle infinite possibilities of sculpting crystal. Through their exceptional craftsmanship, Baccarat boasts the highest number of award-win- ning Best Craftsmen in France, more than any other French luxury house. Watching how their glass-blowing is done, you can really ap- preciate the craft, patience, and expertise that go into this art. The oldest collection in the Baccarat archive, Harcourt 1841 is re- puted for its iconic design and has been a staple of French power, selected since the age of Napoleon III to its contemporary use in the Palais de l’Elysée. The Harcourt 1841 glass is characterised by its ar- chitectural form: a stunning shape from the flat cut pattern of the bowl to the bevelled geometry of the stem down to the hexagonal foot. Its craftsmanship is apparent from every angle of its regal and graceful form. Harcourt Champagne Cooler in a choice of clear and gold or clear and silver is a symbol of elegance and adorns itself in the most beau- tiful setting possible. It enhances the clear crystal’s purity with silver or gold-plated handles, making it a luxurious table element. The set is completed with Mon Harcourt A Moi, composed of a champagne flute, an old fashioned tumbler 95, and a number 2 glass. These three glasses can be used for drinking champagne, wine, whiskey, cocktails and much more. An old-fashioned tumbler, the Harcourt Empire shares the same structural outline as the Harcourt 1841 tumbler but is adorned with exquisite golden embellishment. Its golden decorative shapes are ap- plied with a light hand to the flat cut pattern of the glass, while the lid and base of the tumbler have a glided trim. The Harcourt Empire collection showcases sparkling lucid crystal complemented by grace- ful gold, which includes a wine glass, highball glass, and champagne flute. Lastly, the Harcourt Our Fire Candlestick designed by Philippe Starck is an all-crystal candleholder inspired by the celebrated Harcourt set. The candelabra consists of three sections: candlestick that forms the base, followed by a candleholder inspired by the form of Baccarat’s Harcourt glass, and finally a crystal lampshade with a glittering red or golden metallic finish. The light, filtered by the magic of the crys- tal, flickers from the flame of the candle and turns into a magic glow. The world of Baccarat extends beyond tableware, decoration, and lighting to bring you Be@rbrick Baccarat, the lovechild born from a daring collaboration with Japanese brand Medicom Toy. The iconic art toy in the form of a bear has been reinterpreted by many contem- porary artists, street artists, and fashion designers, and for Baccarat, it slips on its crystal costume for new adventures in the luxury world. It is also available in a limited edition facet-cut red crystal designed by the ‘godfather of streetwear’ Hiroshi Fujiwara. As Oscar Wilde once said, preferably about the game of poker, “One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.” Baccarat sums it up when they describe the characters on a deck of cards as “a dandy king of clubs, a heartbreaker with his louxor case. A jack of spades with piercing eyes stroking a black panther. A brazen queen of hearts with a glass in her hand. A joker hanging from a dark-side chandelier there to amuse the royal court.” In the Jeux de Cristal (Game of Crystal) series, the Poker Card Game designed by Alexandre Benjamin Navet takes the player into a joyous imaginary world with vibrantly coloured prints. With bold strokes, the multi-skilled artist and designer have drawn a series of tableaux standing side by side to Baccarat’s iconic products in a dialogue that embraces both heritage and modernity. Enhancing the mind to do more than master the game, the player is challenged to search for a