Functional and Ceremonial Glasses from the Renaissance to the 19th Century: The Mesnil Collection

This exceptional collection of ancient glasses, ranging from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century, from Venice to England, via France, Spain, Bohemia, the Germanic countries and the Netherlands, has been brought together by one collector. Philippe du Mesnil started his collection more than ten years ago and has since then continued to visit antique fairs and auctions, sharpening his eye daily.

We can't help but admire in the catalog very beautiful Venetian glasswork from the 16^th and 17^th centuries, and in particular filigree glass, which rubs shoulders with European “Venice-style” pieces. The latter come directly from Venetian producers, whose influence spread throughout Europe, giving birth to regional models very similar to Venetian prototypes, sometimes with features that allow them to be identified, more particularly in the case of Catalan and Dutch coins. The Venetian glassmaking tradition animates the majority of this collection. We wonder about the use value of these pieces. Many of them appear to have more of a symbolic or ritual value; they are ceremonial pieces, often a sign of aristocratic belonging and power.

Also brought together are more utilitarian and popular glassware pieces from the 18^th century, including drinking glasses, generically called "verre fougère". If the 19^th century, corresponding to Philippe du Mesnil's first purchases, is no longer the strong point of this set, the first drinking glasses acquired by the collector, from Bordeaux, are nevertheless very representative of the important novelty that are the decorated and personalized glass services which, at the time, became a major set table decoration.

• 20 x 25.5 cm
• 152 pages
• 95 illustrations
• Soft cover with rhodoid dust jacket
• Bilingual French-English
• ISBN: 978-2-9155-4259-2

Pierre Rosenberg de l’Académie française, président-directeur honoraire du musée du Louvre, «Hommage à Chardin»

Constance Rubini, directeur du musée des Arts décoratifs de Bordeaux, «Au gré d’une passion»

Jean-Luc Olivié, conservateur en chef, département du verre, musée des Arts décoratifs de Paris, «De l’invention du verre au plaisir de le collectionner. Une introduction à la collection du Mesnil»

Jean-Luc Olivié avec Véronique Ayroles, musée des Arts décoratifs de Paris, «Catalogue des œuvres exposées», près de 120 notices

Catherine Hébrard-Salivas, responsable du verre, Laboratoire du centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France, «Qu’en est-il de l’appellation “attribution du Sud-Ouest”?»

Isabelle Biron, professeur d’histoire, doctorante en archéologie à l’université d’Aix-Marseille, «Analyses chimiques élémentaires des verres. Méthodes et enjeux»