Musée Baccarat, Paris

Timeless, Elegant, Perfection, Sophisticated, Gravitas; the superlatives are endless, but one word captures the many – – BACCARAT!!!

How fitting, Sagacious Palate has landed in one of the most prestigious and sought after crystal producers’ museums in the world, with a personal tour conducted by the incomparable Madame Michaela Lerch, Curator and Director of the Heritage Department of Baccarat. This was a dream come true as my love for and appreciation of Baccarat seems boundless, especially when one has the opportunity to experience all of its luxury as my home away from home when in New York.

We started with a small coffee, taking in none other than Baccarat’s Harcourt cut Talleyrand espresso glasses, now this is how I wish to take my espresso, in the elegant Bar as we relaxed and prepared to be taken on a magical journey through timeless treasures and rare pieces fashioned for the most regal and royal.

As we moved from floor to floor, Madame Lerch’s flawless explanations with dates and special occasions all in perfect order, elevated our Baccarat experience. I knew at that moment we were experiencing something extremely rare and precious – – what a life changing experience. I have to say it was by far one of the most enlightening tours I’ve encountered. Madame Lerch’s wealth of knowledge and delivery creates an atmosphere that makes one feel as if you’d personally been in attendance of the exclusive occasions for which the rare pieces were commissioned and designed. It is this kind of oneness, commitment to, and sheer love of the aesthetics that brings out the rare and refined, as well as a sense of luxury and elegance.

Photography was not allowed in certain areas, so you must see the pieces in person, which were absolutely stunning. From estate dinners with personalized crystal to the infamous sun clock of Marilyn Monroe, your experience will be one to remember.

Vase dit "du Négus", 1909 — Vase dit “du Négus”, 1909

With Mr. Francisco Matias and Ms. Stéphanie Morel

Grand Chandelier from the 1855 Exhibition

Ancienne Carafe – Rohan (My future decanter)

The Bar - Carafe Louis XIII — The Bar – Carafe Louis XIII

With Tony, Ms. Stéphanie Morel and Madame Michaela Lerch

Having been granted this rare opportunity, I felt it necessary and most appropriate that I make sure a few “Red Boxes” find their way to the states. In the words of Madame Lerch, “We all need quality in our lives,” and that’s my “Red Box” reasoning – – Quality!!!!

After the tour and confirming the shipping address with Mr. Francisco Matias, we received a special invite from Ms. Stéphanie Morel that we could not refuse – – A Remy Martin Louis XIII tasting at Baccarat. Just when one thinks it can’t get better, one gets Baccarat!!!!

This is the perfect explanation and the proper summation of what Baccarat is and represents.

“Baccarat, a master of light, creates objects that infuse the everyday with a scintillating atmosphere of enchantment. Each exceptional piece embodies the secrets of the luxurious, magical and dreamlike world of Baccarat. Crafted using techniques that Baccarat glass makers and glass cutters have handed down from generation to generation since 1764, light becomes substance in its purest form. Baccarat crystal metamorphoses into coveted objects that beckon seductively to both men and women, imparting a poetic and romantic spirit wherever they appear. The home becomes a way to express feelings and personality, a wellspring of creativity.”

Ahhhhh, the Joy of the “Red Box.”