Antique French Gourd-Shaped Seltzer Siphon in Wire-Caged Glass - 17"

Late 19th-century French seltzer siphon with a slender double-gourd silhouette, the hand-blown glass enclosed in wire mesh with a fine, tight gauge. The pewter head features a curved spout and well-defined thumb lever, the collar inscribed faintly with the maker’s name. These soda siphons were fixtures of Belle Époque cafés, bistros, and pharmacies, designed to deliver pressurized mineral water at table. Their double-bulb profile strengthened the reservoir, while the wire cage mitigated shattering, a practical innovation of late 19th-century French industrial design. Pewter fittings ensured durability and resistance to corrosion while contributing to the sculptural silhouette.

Styled today, they make striking additions to a bar cart or kitchen island, their forms and textures adding history and character to a vignette. They also read beautifully on a console or bookshelf, lending an authentic note of Parisian café culture to both modern and traditional interiors.