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LALIQUE
GLASS:
ROSENBERG LIBRARY’S JULY TREASURE OF THE MONTH
For its July Treasure of the Month, the Rosenberg Library
displayed a selection of decorative glassware designed by Rene
Lalique during the early 20th century.
Rene Jules
Lalique was born in France in 1860.
At the age of sixteen, he began an
apprenticeship for the well-known Parisian jeweler, Louis Aucoq.
After
attending the Sydenham
Art
College
in London,
England
from 1878-1880, Lalique returned to France and began designing jewelry
for top firms such as Cartier and Boucheron.
Early in his career, Lalique’s work was recognized for
its Art Nouveau style.
The Art Nouveau period was
characterized by the use of naturalistic motifs and patterns
with flowing, curved lines.
Nymphs, peacocks, and dragonflies
often appeared in Art Nouveau pieces along with various types of
flowers and leaves.
By the 1920s, the
 Art
Deco style had begun to emerge, and Lalique’s designs reflected
this change.
Art Deco themes also included
natural forms, but these were often highly stylized and
geometrically precise.
During his career, Rene Lalique took advantage of what
were, at the time, the most modern manufacturing techniques
available.
With the aid of more advanced
technology and equipment, Lalique was able to produce multiple
glass wares simultaneously.
Lalique utilized assembly lines and
reusable molds to manufacture his glass designs by the hundreds,
and even the thousands.
Despite being machine-manufactured,
Lalique’s glass and jewelry maintained its quality and handmade
appearance.
Since it was much less expensive
to produce, Lalique glass was often affordable to the general
public.
After Rene Lalique’s death in 1945, his son, Marc Lalique,
took over the company.
Today, Rene Lalique’s
grand-daughter, Marie Claude Lalique, is the firm’s head
designer.
Lalique continues to produce
beautiful jewelry and decorative glass and has stores located
around the world.
The value of vintage Lalique glass
has steadily risen over the years due to its growing popularity
among collectors.
Photo Captions:
1.
Lalique vase in the “Sylvie”
pattern.
2.
Lalique
vase in the “Bacchantes” pattern.
3.
An assortment of perfume bottles
designed by Lalique.
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