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The brilliance of Daum

The brilliance of Daum From Daum Nancy, through post-war Daum crystal, to today’s exquisite pâte-de-verre creations, Daum has become a legend in glass. But unlike other glass families such as Schneider or Legras, Daum’s founder, Jean Daum had zero experience of glass. In fact, he more or less fell into the business. A solicitor by…

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Pierre d’Avesn: designs on Art Deco

Pierre D’Avesn: designs on Art Deco Les Mouettes vase c1925 by P. D’Avesn, available to buy In an Art Deco world, all seagulls would be elongated and elegant, like the ones that cruise around this vase by Pierre d’Avesn (1901-1984). It was made around 1926-1930, when D’Avesn was working as an independent designer. Unlike René…

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Opulent opalescent Etling

Opulent, opalescent, Etling In the spotlight this month: a gorgeous French Etling opalescent glass bowl from around 1925. The pattern is Les Veloutes, model number 251. It has everything you’d look for in Art Deco opalescent glass –  shades of milky turquoise and transparency, the sweeping sense of motion, the contrasting textures. It’s easy to see…

Twinkle, twinkle, Pierrefonds pottery

Twinkle, twinkle, Pierrefonds pottery I do love crystalline stoneware, so I was thrilled to find this exceptional Art Deco Pierrefonds pottery vase (available to buy here). The rotund shape gives it Art Deco gravitas, and the crystalline glaze is deep and scintillating. It’s a bit of a star turn, even by Pierrefonds standards. Few people use the…

Roger Méquinion, Art Deco ceramist

Roger Méquinion,  Art Deco ceramist This splendid Art Deco charger by Roger Méquinion is a story in itself. It’s a fascinating example of the crossover between one medium (glass) and another (clay.) It’s also an example of the creativity that drove the Art Deco movement, a willingness to experiment and extend the boundaries of traditional…

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Jean Gerbino and the Vallauris art of neriage

A late Art Deco mosaic vase by Jean Gerbino This large mosaic vase was made by the naturalised French ceramist, Jean Gerbino. With its stylish triangular handles, it has a whiff of Art Deco about it. That fits, since Gerbino produced this shape around 1940, though he continued making it into the next decade. Like…

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Leune, and a brace of exotic birds

Leune, and a brace of exotic birds This flamboyant Art Deco vase is a perfect example of the taste for enamelled glass in France in the 1920s. It was made by Leune, a Paris glass factory in business from around 1900 to 1930. What strikes you first are the ‘hot’ vitrified colours. Those blues and greens,…