Baccarat 1976 Gridel Lovebirds Paperweight LE #176 EC

Baccarat 1976 Gridel Lovebirds Paperweight LE #176 EC. Its large central picture cane is of a pair of lovebirds on a black base surrounded by white doily canes as its outline. The background is a brilliant deep forest green over opaque grey/white. There are 17 other Gridel silhouette canes which are scattered artfully around the central Gridel. Also included is the specific date cane for 1976.

This paperweight is from a rare limited edition of no more than 350, and is marked on the base with the 1976 date and the number 176. It has the specific Baccarat identifying insignia which is acid etched within the numbered circle. It is approximately three and 1/4 inches in diameter, making it magnum in size. It is in excellent condition, a prize for any Baccarat Gridel collection. It will come with its Baccarat box which is somewhat tattered and split in one bottom corner, as shown in the photos.

This Lovebird Gridel design was chosen as the sample for Baccarat Gridel paperweights that is exhibited in the permanent paperweight collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. That is a high compliment to this special weight of the 18 part series of Gridel weights.

According to Lawrence Selman, a foremost authority on paperweights and their history, the Gridel designs were created by Joseph Emil Gridel, the nine year old nephew of Baccarat manager Jeane Baptiste Toussaint in 1847. This young boy cut 18 different animals from paper and these paper cuttings became the models for Baccarats millefiori silhouette canes.

They are imaginative pictures of a variety of animals including a swan, lovebirds, a butterfly, an elephant, a camel, a deer, a squirrel, a dog, a horse, a goat, and others. Each animal design was incorporated into a paperweight with unique millefiori patterns for different years, and each paperweight has multiple silhouette canes of the many animals included in the design. These are gorgeous Baccarat art pieces, and a complete collection is a goal of serious collectors.

The item "Baccarat 1976 Gridel Lovebirds Paperweight LE #176 EC" is in sale since Sunday, October 11, 2015. This item is in the category "Pottery & Glass\Glass\Art Glass\Paperweights".

The seller is "paprwt" and is located in Northbrook, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Type: Paperweights
• Brand: Baccarat Paperweights
• Country of Origin: France 1976
• Glassware Category: Unique LE Gridel Series