FOUGERES.RENÉ
LALIQUE.1912
Lalique
crystal is a collector's dream. Since the early 20th
century when René Lalique started to design perfume
bottles for François Coty in Paris, collectors
all over the world have been searching for the most
beautiful pieces. For them, and to celebrate the launch
of their own first perfume in 1993 in the beautiful
honeysuckle flacon, Lalique creates every year a limited
edition, signed, and numbered. These pieces of art are
hand made by master glass workers.
Rene Lalique became synonomous with
French Art Nouveau decorative arts. Rene Lalique was
born in 1860 and first began designing fine jewelry
in Paris in 1881. Lalique pursued increasingly more
innovative experimentation in glass commencing around
1883. Early works used the familiar "lost wax"
technique by which the model is made in wax while a
mold is formed around the model. Then, the wax is melted
and molten glass is poured into the mold. Lalique glass
was made in this manner until approximately 1905 at
which time the factory was redesigned for a larger production.
As such, the individual uniqueness of each example of
Lalique glass came to an end with the end of the one-time
only molding technique around wax models. The success
of this venture resulted in the opening of his own glassworks
at Combs-la-Ville in 1909. During the art nouveau period,
Lalique was well known for a wide variety of objects
including perfume bottles, vases, inkwells, decorative
boxes, and bookends. In 1921 a larger factory was established
at Wingen-sur-Moder in Alsace-Lorraine. By the '30s
Lalique was world renowned as the most important designer
of his time.
Lalique
glass is lead based, either mold blown or pressed.
Favored motifs during the Art Nouveau period were
dancing nymphs, fish, dragonflies, and foliage. Characteristically
the glass is crystal in combination with acid-etched
relief. Later some items were made in as many as ten
colors (red, amber, and green among them) and were
occasionally accented with enameling. These colored
pieces, especially those in, black, are highly prized
by advanced collectors. During the '20s and '30s,
Lalique designed several vases and bowls reminiscent
of American Indian art. He also developed a line in
the Art Deco style decorated with stylized birds,
florals, and geometries. In addition to vases, clocks,
automobile mascots, stemware, and bottles, many other
useful objects were produced. While not well known,
Lalique also experimented with bronze and other materials
as well. Most glass was clear or opalescent glass
and signed via engraving or in the mold "R. Lalique".
The R. Lalique signature was only used until 1945
with the death of Rene. At that time, Rene Lalique's
son Marc took over the company. Production of many
pieces produced prior to 1945 ceased following Rene's
death although some are still in production albeit
with a different marking. The firm is still in operation
today.
