1764–1816
After the closure of the Rozières saltworks in 1760 due to a drop in the salt-content of the water, there became available a large quantity of wood floating down to the town of Baccarat. One of the main owners of the Vosges forest where this driftwood came from, namely Monseigneur de Montmorency-Laval, bishop of Metz, wanted to find another use for it and set a fire pit in Baccarat which became a glassworks. In this way, the Bishop wanted to encourage the creation of this industry in the tiny village of Baccarat.[7] To justify the creation of this enterprise in a request made to the king in 1764 by the owner of the site, Monseigneur de Montmorency-Laval wrote: "Sire, France lacks artistic glassware, which is why the products from Bohemia enter in such great quantity: from which follows an astonishing export of deniers, at a time when the kingdom would need them so badly”.[8]
In 1764, King Louis XV gave permission to found a glassworks in the town of Baccarat in the Lorraine region in eastern France to Prince Bishop Cardinal Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency (1724–1808). Production consisted of window panes, mirrors and stemware until 1816 when the first crystal oven went into operation. By that time over 3,000 workers were employed at the site.[9]
1823–1870
Although the name of the factory was still "Verrerie" (glassworks), in fact it was already specialising in crystal. The technique, however, was not that used for Bohemian Crystal, very well known in Europe and originating in Bohemia, but rather the singular rediscovery of the so-called English technique, worked in an original way at the glassworks of Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche between 1779 and 1781.
In order to maintain initial levels of activity Gabriel d'Artigues was forced to hand over the company to three wealthier partners: Pierre-Antoine Godard-Desmarest, a former director of military supplies under the Empire, François-Marie-Augustin Lescuyer-Vespin, a landowner in Charleville, and Nicolas-Rémy Lolot, a trader in Charleville. The full buy-out of shares was completed for the sum of FF 396,000. It was paid by the three partners in 1822 and 1823. Prior to 1823, the wealthy Parisian, Pierre-Antoine Godard-Desmarest had also purchased the glassworks of Trélon in the Thiérache region of northern France. This was a small factory near vast forests producing huge amounts of timber, which until then had been manufacturing pane glass.[10]
In 1824, the crystal glassworks obtained the legal status of a limited company.[10]
Godard-Desmarest senior entrusted the management of the company to a young polytechnic engineer, Jean-Baptiste Toussaint. This decision gave rise to two family dynasties, one owning the company's capital, the other managing the business.[11]
1870–1936
The Imperial Era ended in 1870 with the defeat of Napoleon III. Influences outside France began to have a stronger influence on Baccarat's work during this era, particularly imports from Japan. The world's largest chandelier and a staircase lined with a Baccarat crystal balustrade adorn the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Strong growth continued in Asia for Baccarat. Baccarat has become quite famous at the royal houses. The queen of Portugal, for example, commissioned for her private collection decorative pieces and tableware (currently exhibited in the Ajuda National Palace).
In 1891, 4,189 of the 5,723 town inhabitants worked at the crystal glassworks or lived with its employees. The number of workers increased from 1,125 in 1855 to 2,223 in 1900, making it one of the largest factories in France.
At the end of the 19th century, the Baccarat company built a warehouse, a sales store and a bronze workshop in the area of Gare de l'Est in Paris. This warehouse employed some 246 people in 1899. The building became the Baccarat Museum up until 2003.
One of its most popular products was perfume bottles, and by 1907 production was over 4,000 bottles per day. In 1936, Baccarat began marking all of its works via acid or sandblasting.[9]
1936–2000
The company also produced crystal Francisques for Marshal Phillipe Petain[15] and items honouring Pierre Laval.[16]
Gilbert de La Poix de Fréminville (1886–1941), son of Charles de la Poix de Fréminville, was director of the Crystal Glassworks at the outbreak of World War II with his future son-in-law André Danzin.
Baccarat created an American subsidiary in 1948 in New York City. They started to produce pieces based on Cylon designs, as the famous Cylon Carrier — Napoleon Hat piece (1958).[17]
In 1994, Baccarat created a gigantic crystal chandelier with 230 lights for its 230th anniversary.[18]
In 1993, in the midst of a crisis undermining the luxury goods market, Baccarat began selling jewellery. In 1997, it extended its activity into perfumery.
2000–2010
In 2003, Baccarat moved to a new location in Paris.[19] In 2014, to celebrate the company’s 250th anniversary, it introduced the scent Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.[20] The company also held an exhibition at the Petit Palais in Paris.[21]
2011–present
In 2016, Baccarat appointed Jim Shreve as the president and CEO of North America operations.[22]
In 2019, actress Tan Zhuo became the first-ever Chinese brand ambassador of Baccarat.[23]
Baccarat has supported UNICEF by underwriting their annual Snowflake Ball.[24][25] The company has also participated in the Cow Parade in New York City which benefitted the charitable organisation God’s Love We Deliver,[26] and The Trifecta Gala benefiting several charities and community organisations including the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the West End School.[27]
