Rene Lalique
One of the Founders of two great Periods -
Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Two Revolutions in Art and Design that brought forth highly successful artists and sculptors to the delight of the world.
Rene was the foremost Jeweller and Glassmaker of both Periods.
Lalique Glass is highly collectible.
It includes Bowls,Vases,Figurines,Perfume Bottles and trinkets.
His necklaces are some of the most collectible jewellery on Earth.
When we think of Art Nouveau Jewellery or Art Nouveau Glass the first name that comes to mind is Rene Lalique Jewelery.
Although Lalique was primarily a Glass Designer he was equally known for his beautiful Jewels.
He began as a jeweller and developed into glassmaking.
He is particularly renowned for his designs of Lalique Crystal Vases,Chandeliers,perfume bottles and art nouveau jewellery.
Rene was born in Ay in Marne,France in 1860, throughout his childhood he loved nature and in his early teens he began to paint and the flowing forms of nature.
At the College Turgot. Rene Studied Drawing and Design and used his love of nature to develop a unique style of his own.
Renes mother realised how much he loved painting and design and apprenticed him to Louis Aucoc a Jeweller in Paris.
Rene was always a hard worker and a good student eager to learn.
At the same time He also studied at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in the evenings and later subsequently studied at Sydenham College in London England at a very fortunate time.
In England it was the time of the birth of the Arts and Crafts movement and Lalique would have been very interested in their designs .
During his holidays back in Ay he drew sketches of nature and wildlife and this influenced his work throughout his life.
England was the the very centre of the Arts and Crafts movement and he was inspired not only by the artists of that movement but also by what he saw at the Crystal Palace Exhibition.
In 1880 he returned to Paris where he studied Jewellery manufacturing and then sculpture under Justin Lequien at the Ecole Bernard Palissy.
This time influenced his later work as much of Palissy Pottery was relief decorated and had realistically modelled fish,lizards,snakes and plants.
From this background of Art and Design, he evolved flowing and often erotic designs and the influence of Palissy is shown in his vases such as the Sauterelles and Martin Pecheurs designs .
His most famous single work of the time is probably the Perruches bowl from the 1920s which had a frieze of beautiful moulded parakeets on Opalescent Glass.
Lalique Crystal has become synonymous with high quality figurines and vases.
In later years he became famous not only for art nouveau Glass but also for Art Nouveau Jewellery.
One of the most famous of the pieces of that time is the Bacchantes Bowl which is still in production today.
He has also been called the Art nouveau Glassmeister. He was truly the master of Art Nouveau and Art Deco Glass and Jewellery.
Here are a few Lalique Links from our store :
Car Mascots - Lalique was Famous for these
The Bacchantes Vase - A veritable Frenzy of Passion
Lalique Big Cats - stunning sinuous big cats by Lalique
Lalique Perfume Bottles -Coty are the most collectible ones.
Lalique Dragonflies - wonderful observation
(C) 2008 Keith Jones www.greatfrenchglass.com
A Similar Article about Rene Lalique also appears on our other French Glass site at :
