René Lalique

Félix Marcilhac, René Lalique, 1860-1945: maître-verrier: analyse de l'oeuvre et catalogue raisonné, Paris, 2011, the model registered under the number 998, p. 438

In around 1900, French art glass was to enter a golden age of manufacture. The discovery of the arts of Japan and China at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 was a liberating experience for many European designers, who were able to free themselves from the stylistic constraints of the past. Of central importance was the depiction of the natural world, which would become the primary source of inspiration and the plant kingdom unfurls wonderfully in the creations of the three great masters of glass art in the early twentieth century: Émile Gallé, the Daum brothers and of course René Lalique. Each designer developed in his own language of ornament and colour to celebrate the beauty of nature. 

Lalique first made a name for himself in the art of jewellery. He conducted his first experiments in glass around 1890 and gradually developed the technique of mould-pressed glass, which he applied to a range of vases, lamps and decorative elements. He developed a huge range of forms for vases, his famous car mascots, all finished in a plethora of patinas and vibrant colours. Several hundred models were produced by his workshops and his output was recognised at the 1925 and 1937 International Exhibitions in Paris. His international acclaim was spread further afield through the wildly luxurious interiors of 'grand salon' of the SS Normandie for which Lalique supplied monumental chandeliers, towering uplights and row upon row of coloured glass columns. Even today, some 78 years after his death, Lalique continues to maintain the excellence of its craftsmanship which has made Lalique's art famous throughout the world.

The Alicante vase presented here, also known as the 'parrot' vase, is a perfect example of the modernity of Lalique's art. Created by the glassmaker on September 27, 1927, this model in blow-moulded glass is tinted in the mass with cobalt oxides, giving it its exceptional electric blue color. Thanks to its signature, this particularly rare piece can be dated 1928-1932. 

Lalique is undoubtedly one of the most talented glassmakers of the 20th century and his works are presented in the greatest private collections and international museums.