Baccarat (company)

In 1764 King Louis XV of France 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 (1710-1802). Production consisted of window panes, mirrors and stemware until 1816 when the first crystal oven went into operation. By that time over 3000 workers were employed at the site.[7]

Baccarat received its first royal commission in 1823. This began a lengthy line of commissions for royalty and heads of state throughout the world. In 1855 Baccarat won its first gold medal, at the World's Fair in Paris. Baccarat first began marking its work with a registered mark in 1860. The mark was a label affixed to the bottom of the work. In the period 1846-1849 Baccarat signed some of their high quality glass millefiori paperweights with the letter B and the year date in a composite cane.[8] A special paperweight dated 1853 was found under the cornerstone of a bomb damaged church in Baccarat when construction recommenced after World War II.[9] The crystal production expanded its scope throughout this period, and Baccarat built a worldwide reputation for making fine stemware, chandeliers, barware, and perfume bottles.[7]

Baccarat crystal chandelier and staircase banister, Dolmabahçe Palace

The Imperial Era ended in 1870 with the defeat of Napoléon 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 ). One of the strongest production areas for Baccarat was perfume bottles, and by 1907 production was over 4000 bottles per day. In 1936 Baccarat began marking all of its works via acid or sandblasting.[7]

Baccarat supported Vichy France from 1940-1944 through the production of fine crystal commemorative items which honored Nazis and Nazi collaborators including items for Hermann Goering,[10] which featured the Goreing coat of arms.[11] The company also produced crystal Francisques for Marshal Phillipe Petain[12][13][14] and items honoring Pierre Laval[15]l[16]l.

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). The chairman of Baccarat from 1960 to 1992 was alleged Nazi collaborator[17] René de Chambrun.[18] The director of Baccarat until 1991 was alleged former Nazi collaborator Rene Bousquet.[19]

There are American stores in Costa Mesa, California; Houston, Texas; Greenwich, Connecticut; New York City; Palm Desert, California; Las Vegas; and Miami, Florida. A retrospective was held in 1964 at the Louvre Museum to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the crystal works. In 1993, Baccarat began making jewelry and in 1997 the company expanded into perfume.[20]

In 2003, Baccarat moved to a new location in Paris.[20] In 2014, to celebrate the company’s 250th anniversary, it introduced the scent Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.[21] The company also held an exhibition at the Petit Palais in Paris.[22]

In 2016, Baccarat appointed Jim Shreve as the president and CEO of North America operations.[23]

In October 2021, Baccarat debuted the 180th anniversary version of its Harcourt glass at Paris Fashion Week 2022 with designs by Victor Weinsanto, Yoshiki, Imane Ayissi, Benjamin Benmoyal, Tom Van der Borght, Clara Daguin, Honey Fucking Dijon, Kevin Germanier, Mira Mikati, and Charles de Vilmorin.[24] The company has also participated in the Cow Parade in New York City which benefitted the charitable organization God’s Love We Deliver.[25]

During World War II, Baccarat collaborated with the Nazis during the German occupation of France, aiding the Vichy government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain and increased their wealth from their business affairs with the Germans. The company produced fascist artefacts[26][27] glorifying Pétain, Hermann Göring, and Pierre Laval.[28]

In 1940, The Baccarat factory was occupied by German troops, all Baccarat employees were expelled, and German troops transformed the factory into a P.O.W. transit camp which held 20,000 French prisoners.[29][30] The camp was considered a Dulag, where captured opponents of the Nazi regime were interned before being deported to permanent camps.[31]

On August 7, 1941, a large Francisque made by the company was given to Marshal Petain.[32]

In 1942, Aristide Colotte, glass artist for both Baccarat and the Vichy Government, completed a crystal sword for Marshal Petain.[33] The sword weighed over 400 Kilograms. Colotte was accused of having harmed national defense for having supported Marshal Pétain, sentenced to four years' imprisonment, a fine of 10,000 francs, national degradation for life and the placing of his property in sequestration.[34]

Alleged Nazis and alleged Nazi collaborators remained in top positions at Baccarat until 1992, notably Rene Bousquet who was indicted for crimes against humanity in 1991 and was director of the company at the time of his indictment.[35][19] Bousquet, who led the police during the Vichy regime and was responsible for the deportation of tens of thousands of Jews to German concentration camps during World War II, was assassinated in 1993.[36] Alleged Nazi collaborator[37] René de Chambrun was chairman of the company until 1992.

In a 1999 lawsuit, a jury found that Baccarat, Inc. discriminated against a Spanish-speaking worker. Irma Rivera was awarded $500,000 after she testified that the company president complained about her Puerto Rican accent, barred her from speaking Spanish to a co-worker and dismissed her from her job because of her ethnic origins.[38]

In another 1999 lawsuit against Baccarat, Inc. the plaintiff alleged aged related job discrimination.[39]

In a 2019 lawsuit against Baccarat New York, plaintiffs argued that the company engaged in increasing and maintaining discriminatory working conditions and a hostile work environment and of discriminating against the Plaintiff because of Plaintiff's disability.[40]

In 2020, Baccarat, Inc was forced to pay $100,000 to settle an EEOC Lawsuit for Race, Sexual Orientation and Disability Harassment. The EEOC had charged Baccarat with harassing a sales consultant at its Manhattan store based on race, sexual orientation, and disability.[41]

On May 16, 1991, the People of the State of California filed a complaint against Baccarat, Inc. for Civil Penalties and Injunctive relief. The complaint alleged that through the sale of leaded crystal decanters to consumers in California, Baccarat violated provisions of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.[42]

In May 2019, the Baccarat crystal factory had to pay 13,000 euros to 30 employees who were victims of asbestos exposure.[43] In September 2019, the Baccarat crystal factory was found to be at fault for the death of a worker who died of cancer due to asbestos.[44] In September 2020, the prejudice of anxiety was recognized for 264 former employees of the Baccarat crystal factory exposed to asbestos and they were awarded 9,000 euros each.[45]

In 2021, Baccarat targeted artist Kalliope Amorphous in a trademark request,[46] which resulted in public backlash on social media, with thousands calling for a boycott of the company.[47]