Early 20th Century French Soda Siphon in Sky-Blue Glass - 12½"

This French soda siphon in weighty, vibrant sky-blue hand-blown glass dates to the early 20th century. The cylindrical body rises to rounded shoulders and a thick footrim, its surface etched with a bold cartouche displaying the brand name and noting the firm’s foundation in 1864. Framed with scrolling foliate ornament, the silkscreened decoration reflects the decorative flair of French advertising glassware. The original pewter head, with curved spout and thumb lever, is engraved with the same name that appears on the body, a detail prized by collectors, and shows a mellow patina from decades of use. The siphon is no longer functional, but it presents beautifully as a decorative object. Siphons such as this were a staple of Belle Époque and interwar cafés, brasseries, and pharmacies, where they dispensed charged water for spritzes, aperitifs, and table service. Colored examples in shades like this luminous blue not only differentiated brands but also created a sparkling display when grouped together, catching the light along café shelves like rows of jewel-toned bottles. Today, the siphon makes a striking decorative accent on a bar cart, kitchen shelf, or dining console, whether displayed singly as a sculptural object or grouped with other colored siphons for a graphic, jewel-like arrangement.