HISTORY
OF RENE LALIQUE GLASS
René
Lalique became synonymous with
French Art Nouveau decorative
arts. René 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
René. At that time,
René Lalique's son Marc
took over the company. Production
of many pieces produced prior to
1945 ceased following
René's death although some
are still in production albeit
with a different marking. The
firm is still in operation today.
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