A wonderful pair of crystal newel posts, also referred to as boule d’escalier. The more ornate version is a 19th century antique boule d’escalier (stair ball) by the famous French Baccarat Crystal house. Hand blown, this honeycomb model is paired with a more unusual ornate bronze base. Also featured is an antique English crystal newel post c.1890 also set on a bronze collar base. Originally these crystal finials or Boule d’escalier, were used as a decorative element atop a newel post at the bottom of the staircase. They were often installed at the completion of a house and folklore has it that when a home displayed a clear finial, it was a symbol that the mortgage was paid in full. Before that, a coloured ball might have been used instead.I like to use them on my desk as a stylish paperweight or a decorative feature on my coffee table.