French Molded & Polished Crystal Champagne Cooler Ice Bucket, Ganymede, Lalique

An Elegant and Timeless French Molded & Polished Crystal Champagne Cooler or Ice Bucket named 'Ganymede' by Marc Lalique circa 1960, France. The "Lalique," and "France" signatures are engraved on the lower portion of the base and the original paper label, "Made in France" is affixed on the bottom of the cooler.. Lalique has been the premiere name in crystal, cut and molded glass since the early 20th century. Their work speaks of purity, refinement and understated elegance. The champagne cooler is a functional object of art embodying the spirit of Lalique and an emblem of impressive accomplishment.

And what of Ganymede? In Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of the gods, was captivated by the Trojan prince, Ganymede's beauty and abducted him to serve as his cupbearer. This act granted Ganymede immortality and a place among the gods on Mount Olympus. Ganymede's story became a symbol of beauty, love, and divine favor, often depicted in art and literature. In some accounts, Ganymede is associated with the constellation Aquarius, as he is said to have become the water-bearer of the gods.

Astronomically, Ganymede is the largest of Jupiter's four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto), and also the largest moon in the solar system. NASA. has found evidence of a vast, underground saltwater ocean on Ganymede, potentially holding more water than Earth's entire surface! Ganymede has its own magnetic field, which is a unique characteristic for a moon.

Additional References: Rene Lalique, French Art Deco and French Mid-Century Modern. Daum, Hermes, Tiffany, Louis Comfort-Tiffany..