Daum Nancy service, 12 glasses, circa 1890
Art nouveau and the triumph of glass
With the Universal Exhibition of 1900, glass became the medium of choice for the new aesthetics of the fin de siècle. The new medium seduced fans of curved lines and light effects with its flexibility and ductility. Indeed, glass can be worked both on the surface and in depth, hot or cold; it can create transparent effects akin to those of crystal, or can be opaque like pâte de verre.
Master glassmakers produce their wares in small batches, making them rare and sought-after today. Small Gallé vases, Gallé lamps, Daum vases or Lalique vases, these glass creations from the 1900s, witnesses to the revival of glass art, remain expensive on the market - whether they are one-offs or mass-produced pieces.
The Gallé vase
Who is Émile Gallé?
Émile Gallé (1846-1904), an emblematic figure of Art Nouveau and founder of the École de Nancy, is world-renowned as the inventor of glass marquetry. This process, imitated from metal plating, aims to "insert fragments, blades or small masses, of variable thickness and shape, either bare or covered with other glass, into the vitreous mass still in a pasty state" [Philippe Thiébaut, "Gallé et la marqueterie de verre", La revue du musée d'Orsay, n° 18, 2004, p. 100].
The glass marquetry technique allows for infinite chromatic variations and highly detailed motifs. The price of a Gallé vase can be very high, especially for pieces produced during his lifetime, i.e. before 1904. Vases made using this technique are also extremely valuable, and can fetch several hundred thousand euros.
Gallé wall lamp in acid-etched glass with seaweed decoration, circa 1900
How to recognize a genuine Gallé vase?
Three elements must be taken into account to distinguish a real Gallé from a fake Gallé:
- The price
- The technique
- The signature
The price is very high for the master's one-off pieces (vases, pots, lamps, hanging baskets and flasks) made before 1904, and lower for mass-produced pieces.
As far as technology is concerned, two productions coexist:
- These are unique pieces, recognizable by the relief and patterns that appear transparent, using highly complex techniques including glass marquetry. These Gallé vases are rare and particularly sought-after by discerning collectors;
- Mass-produced pieces, recognizable by their acid-etched decoration
Note that the glass must be thick and the engraving fine and in relief. The inside of a Gallé vase is smooth.
The signature of a Gallé vase is hand-engraved for one-off pieces; an acid-molded initials with the words "Cristallerie" is used for mass-produced pieces made before 1904. A mark is used for posthumous production (after 1904 and until the company's liquidation in 1931).
The Daum vase
Auguste and Antonin Daum: French glassmakers of the Nancy School
Brothers Auguste (1853-1909) and Antonin Daum (1864-1930) were very close to Émile Gallé, with whom they shared a passion for glass and botany. From 1891 onwards, the Daum brothers introduced artistic workshops to their glassworks, achieving great mastery of engraving and veneering techniques.
The Daum frères crystal works win numerous awards at international exhibitions, including a Grand Prix at the 1900 Universal Exhibition. Daum exhibited decorative and utility glassware (glass and crystal dinner services), as well as lighting lamps, highly appreciated for their industrial and commercial value: lounge lamps, desk lamps, Art Nouveau-style nightlights and lanterns, decorated with engravings, birds and plants. Vases in multi-layered glass with wheel-engraved decoration are also presented, such as the "Tristan et Iseult Vase", currently at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy. Vases with figures are relatively rare in Daum's output. The piece presented at the 1900 Exhibition takes as its subject the two main characters of Wagner's opera.
In 1901, Gallé and the Daum and Gallé brothers founded theÉcole de Nancy, alongside cabinetmakers Vallin and Majorelle.
Daum inkwell in blue and green glass with wheel-engraved decoration, signed Daum Nancy.
How to recognize an Art Nouveau/Art Deco Daum vase?
Authentic Daum crystal pieces can be recognized by the following features:
- The signature : Daum objects and vases are signed Daum Nancy/Daum France, accompanied by the Cross of Lorraine. Older signatures were usually molded, i.e. they appeared in relief on the piece.
- Technique : a Daum is a work in glass, pâte de verre or pâte de cristal. Glass or crystal paste has a particular grain, similar to the skin of a peach, and each piece is unique.
- Decoration : can give a clue to the year in which the piece was made. A more floral style is characteristic of Art Nouveau and the École de Nancy, while a more geometric style is typical of Art Deco. Naturalistic inspiration is widely reflected in 1900 vases.
The Lalique vase
After Lalique jewelry, Lalique glass
Before becoming a master glassmaker, René Lalique (1860-1945) made his name as a jeweler. The 1900 Universal Exhibition established his reputation with a wealthy international clientele. After a successful collaboration with François Coty in 1907, for whom Lalique created his perfume bottles, he abandoned jewelry for glassmaking. Lalique was then 58 years old.
As a master glassmaker, Lalique used modern industrial techniques while retaining the demands ofluxury craftsmanship. For example, he developed the pressed glass technique, in which the pieces are obtained by pressing a counter-mould or metal core against the vitreous paste. However, Lalique retained the traditional method of souflé-moulé glass and lost-wax casting, which enabled him to produce highly precise molds. The industrial processes used in Lalique's factories are complemented by meticulous attention to finishing (acid etching, felt wheel polishing) and patinas.
Lalique produced a huge number of glass objects: Lalique vases are among the most sought-after, but there are also goblets, dishes, inkwells, ashtrays, carafes and table glasses. He also created numerous models of lamps, ceiling lights, sconces and candelabras.
Some models are typical of Art Nouveau, such as the long-haired nymphs. Others are characteristic of Art Deco, with geometric friezes of birds, figures and rigorously arranged garlands of flowers and foliage. The 1925 Exposition des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes marked Lalique's triumph.
How to recognize a Lalique vase?
Antique Lalique vases and glass objects can be recognized by the following features:
- The signature
- The technique
Signature:
- With the exception of chandeliers and lanterns, the master glassmaker's creations from 1919 to 1945 are all signed "R. Lalique" (R for "René"). The presence of the simple letter "R" can drive up prices, sometimes by several thousand euros for these highly sought-after pieces, made during his lifetime.
- Lalique France" is the current signature of Lalique crystal.
- The VDA signature was used between 1921 and 1923 and stands for "verrerie d'Alsace". Founded in 1921 in Wingen-sur-Moder, it was here that the new collections were manufactured.
- The Lalique numbered signature : is affixed to limited edition pieces. These pieces always have a higher value than other Laliques glasses.
Technique :
- Before 1945, Lalique glass had a low lead oxide content, which makes the glass less brilliant, more opaque. Colorless Lalique glass made before René's death glows yellow under black light.
- Lalique sometimes used colored glass (brown, green, red, blue, gray, yellow or black) and opalescent glass, whose hue varies from pale to deep blue depending on the intensity of the light.
- He rarely uses email applications.
