Empire Cut Crystal & Glass Set from Sainte Anne Crystal Factory, Belgium, 19th Century, Set of 175

Important and Extensive Glass Service “Comprising one hundred and seventy-four glasses including water, red wine, white wine, sherry, liquor, champagne flutes and five decanters.
Vonèche (Sainte Anne crystal factory in Vonèche, active from 1778 to 1830).
Today, the quality of Vonêche’s productions is still unanimously recognized. There are crystal works by Vonêche at the Louvre, in New York or in Asia. Some beautiful pieces are kept at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Namur.

History:
In 1802, the industrialist Aimé-Gabriel d’Artigues over the Verreries Sainte-Anne de Vonêche, which had been founded in 1778. with his degree in chemistry, d’Artigues had already been experimenting in the production of pure lead crystal and, aware of the importance of science and technology working together, he made every effort to perfect the manufacture of crystal through laboratory research. Vonêche rapidly became the most important glassworks in the French Empire, attracting numerous families specialized in crystal making from Alsace and Lorraine.
By 1806, the fame of Vonêche was undisputed. In preparation for the French Trade Fair (l’Exposition générale et publique des produits de l’industrie française), d’Artigues submitted samples of his crystal for examination by members of the Consultative Committee for the Arts and Manufacture of Namur. Members of the committee confirmed that the crystal and the work done to create it were of the greatest beauty. The engraving was perfect, whilst the prices of the company’s crystal appeared to be very reasonable.
A few years later, a report by J.-B.X. Wasseige, a deputy of the Fabriques et Manufactures de la Province de Namur, dated 25 February 1816, pointed out that this crystal works was without doubt one of the finest in Europe; not only could it supply crystal for the domestic market, but it could also make considerable exports abroad. Despite the region becoming part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, d’Artigues made sure that his company could continue to supply his French clients by acquiring the Verrerie de Baccarat in Lorraine, through which he could import his crystal of Vonêche into France. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
from
misattribution