French Art Glass
The importance
of the French contribution to the art glass movement can be gauged by the fact
that Rene Lalique – one of the finest craftsmen ever to work in the medium – is considered to have produced pieces that are not the best
there were on offer. He was equalled, and often eclipsed, by stunning work from
Emile Galle and Daum Freres, who between them elevated French art glass wares
to the very highest level.
Initially having taken on the wider Victorian production of cameo glass, the
French artists developed the process, adding their own enhancements and
creative foibles. The basic premise of cameo glass saw etching techniques used
to remove the outer layers of multi-ply glass pieces, revealing the underlying
lamina and creating images in relief. Galle was considered the master of this
art, but Daum’s craftsmen developed the use of acid etching which enabled them
to add texture or varying opacity to their material, and create a new range of
products as a result. They also pioneered the use of wheel-ground surfaces,
which produced something approaching a hammered or beaten effect, more common
on metalwork, which opened yet more opportunities for creativity.
The Great War, unsurprisingly, meant a lengthy hiatus in both production and
development, but Daum in particular sprang out of the traps once peace had
broken out, and took up their innovative ways once again. Pate de verre was one
such modernism, which saw crushed, coloured glass reheated, and used as the
initial melt from which new pieces were made which could then be subjected to
existing finishing techniques – old skills that gave startling new results when
using the reconstituted molten material. At the Christalerie de Nancy – which
opened alongside the company’s existing Verrerie in the same town – the
preference was to work with brilliantly clear lead crystal, blown in to vases
and other vessels, or tooled whilst still molten to produce figurines and
sculptural pieces.
Galle had long since set new standard in cameo glassware, introducing
decorative bubbles – harking back to the Georgian penchant for air twist stems
– and also developing the inclusion of metallic foils as layers in his
stratified pieces. With Lalique also producing his signature vases, perfume
bottles, glass plaques and later stemware – with his own innovative processes
such as the “lost wax” casting process borrowed from his earlier jewellery
making expertise – it is evident that France could boast an unsurpassed line up
of art glass craftsmen, and its place at the very highest table is beyond
refute.
Crystallerie De Pantin Enamelled And Optically Moulded Vase Henri Berge c1900
Designed by Henri Berge for crystallerie De Pantin
£325.00
A Verrerie D'Art Lorraine Glass With Wrought Iron Frame c1925
A Verrerie D'Art Lorrain Glass With Wrought Iron Frame
£975.00
A Large Cristalleries De Sevres Opalescent Glass Charger c1935
A Large Cristalleries De Sevres Opalescent Glass Charger c1935. The design is known as Arcs et Baies, arcs and berries
£250.00
Art Deco Enamelled Glass Vase by Leune c1925
A very fine Art Deco enamelled glass vase made by Leune c1925 in excellent condition. For more French art glass, including a wide range of Art Deco vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£390.00
André Delatte Berluze Vase c1930
A very fine André Delatte Berluze vase from c1930 in excellent condition. For more French art glass, including a wide range of Art Deco vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£175.00
Very Large Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Coupe c1935
Very Large Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Coupe c1935
£225.00
Very Large Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Coupe c1935
A very fine and large Verrerie D'Andelys glass coupe freom c1935 in excellent condition. For more French art glass, including a wide range of vintage Lalique glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£195.00
Verrerie D'Andelys Opalescent Marguerites Glass Coupe c1935
A very fine Verrerie D'Andelys opalescent glass coupe c1935. For more French art glass, including a wide range of vintage Lalique glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.
£425.00
Cristallerie de Pantin Early Acid Cameo Vase with Silver Mounts c1890
Cristallerie de Pantin Early Acid Cameo Vase with Silver Mounts c1890
£720.00
Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Vase Les Cabochons c1930
Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Vase Les Cabochons c1930
£210.00
A Monumental Andre Delatte Acid Etched Centrepiece c1925
A Monumental Andre Delatte Acid Etched Centrepiece c1925
£275.00
A Tall Muller Freres Vase c1925
The body is matt, it has been finished with acid. The acid stencil mark looks polished but the etching is simply more intense. This vase is cased, the colour is sandwiched between the two transparent layers of glass, The outer surfacr then being acid etch
£325.00
Desire Christian Cameo Glass Vase in Gilt Cage c1900
Desire Christian Cameo Glass Vase in Gilt Cage c1900
£2,850.00
A Large Opalescent Verrerie D'Andelys Glass Charger c1935
A Large Opalescent Verrerie D'Andelys, Known as Verlys Glass Charger c1935
£250.00
A Muller Freres Amphora Vase c1925
Even a cursory glance at this vase will reveal why both Daum and Schneider engaged lawyers to ensure Muller Freres desisted from making their 'tributes'. The colours and form are that of Schneider, the foil inclusions a tribute to Daum
£650.00
Paul Nicolas D'Argental Tricorn Cameo Waterlillies Vase c1920
Paul Nicolas D'Argental Tricorn Cameo Waterlillies Vase c1920
£580.00
A Signed Marcel Goupy Enamelled Perfume Bottle c1925
Most probably designed for Parisian retailer Geo Rouard, Goupy was an architect turned jeweller, designer and decorator.
£575.00
French Dodecagonal Footed Opalescent Centrepiece c1925
Possibly Julien, Choisy-Le -Roi or Verlux. WE favout the latter
£200.00