Daum Frères – École de Nancy
This refined Art Nouveau vase was created by Daum Frères, one of the leading glass manufacturers from Nancy, France. Under the direction of Auguste and Antonin Daum, the firm gained international fame from the late 19th century onwards, thanks to their innovative techniques and artistic approach to glassmaking. Daum Nancy became renowned for their mastery in combining various techniques such as acid-etched decoration, enameling, and gilding, often featuring natural motifs inspired by the aesthetics of the Art Nouveau movement.
Execution
The vase exhibits a remarkable and complex composition of color and material. The core of the piece consists of colorless glass in which glass powders are embedded on the interior. The exterior is formed by a clear, colorless glass layer that gives the embedded colors depth and a soft brilliance.
The lower half of the vase and part of the body are enriched with green glass powders, symbolizing the earth or grass from which the graceful cyclamen emerge. As the eye travels upward, the color subtly transforms with the addition of pink glass powder, symbolizing the sky or the dawn. This beautiful color gradient enhances the natural theme of the design.
The decoration was achieved using acid-etching, bringing out the delicate forms of the cyclamen. The flowers, leaves, and stems are further refined with polychrome enamel, carefully applied by hand in natural tones. The slender neck of the vase features a richly gilded frieze, also adorned with enamel-painted cyclamen motifs. The combination of materials and techniques results in a vase that, despite its modest height of 12.5 cm, possesses a grand artistic presence.
Signature
The vase is signed in gold on the underside at the pontil with the inscription “Daum Nancy,” accompanied by the characteristic Cross of Lorraine. This cross, featuring two horizontal bars, was a distinctive element in Daum’s signatures and refers to the Lorraine region, where Nancy served as the center of the École de Nancy, a major movement within Art Nouveau. The gilded signature not only underscores the authenticity of the piece but also serves as a decorative detail that enhances the overall refinement of the vase.
Price: € 3250,-
Interested in this item? – Please click here to send us a message using the contact form.
