The substantial bowl is made of softly opalescent glass in a pale blue-lavender tone. Its broad, gently rounded body rises from a low oval foot to a wide opening, creating a graceful, balanced silhouette. The subtly textured, satin-finished exterior contrasts beautifully with the more translucent interior, producing delicate variations of colour and light.

The exterior is decorated with an elegant naturalistic composition of flowering branches, apparently representing honeysuckle (chèvrefeuille). The blossoms are rendered in soft lilac, mauve and greyish-white tones, with finely gilded stamens and delicate outlines. Slender stems and carefully modelled leaves extend around the circumference, giving the decoration a fluid, continuous rhythm.

The floral motifs appear in varying degrees of relief, achieved through carefully controlled surface treatment and engraving, complemented by polychrome enamel and gilded details.

Particularly attractive is the subtle contrast between the cool blue opalescent ground, the muted floral colours and the warm gold highlights. This restrained palette produces an exceptionally sophisticated effect, characteristic of the finest French Art Nouveau glass.

The upper edge retains traces of gilded decoration. The interior also reveals the floral design through the translucent glass, creating an additional impression of depth.

The bowl is signed Daum Nancy with the Cross of Lorraine.

Historical Background:

The Daum glassworks was established in Nancy in 1878, when Jean Daum acquired an existing glass factory. His sons Auguste Daum (1853–1909) and Antonin Daum (1864–1930) subsequently transformed the enterprise into one of the most celebrated artistic glass manufactories in France.

Around 1891, Antonin Daum established an artistic department devoted to the development of innovative forms and decorative techniques. The company became an important representative of the École de Nancy, the artistic movement that helped establish Nancy as a major centre of European Art Nouveau.

The manufactory achieved international recognition at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900, where it received a Grand Prix. Daum’s artistic production was distinguished by the sophisticated use of coloured and opalescent glass, acid etching, engraving, enamelling and gilding.

Museum Collections:

The importance of Daum’s artistic production is reflected in major French museum collections.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy maintains an extensive reference collection of Daum glass, covering the manufactory’s production from its foundation in 1878 to the present day.

The Musée de l’École de Nancy also preserves an important collection of Daum Art Nouveau glass, including botanical and floral compositions demonstrating the company’s technical and artistic achievements.

The present bowl, with its refined opalescent glass, elaborate floral decoration, substantial dimensions and signed manufacture, is a particularly attractive example of the artistic glass associated with the École de Nancy.

Its quality of execution and decorative sophistication make it a museum-quality collector’s piece.

Maker: Daum Nancy
Origin: Nancy, France
Period: Circa 1900
Style: Art Nouveau / École de Nancy
Material: Opalescent glass, etched and enamelled floral decoration, gilding
Decoration: Flowering honeysuckle, attributed
Signature: Daum Nancy with the Cross of Lorraine

Dimensions:
Height: 9 cm
Length: 31 cm
Width: 21 cm

Weight:
2.21 kg

Condition:
Age-related surface wear and some wear to the gilding are visible. Overall condition is shown in the photographs.

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Each vase is of tall cylindrical form, executed in colourless glass with a finely textured, acid-frosted surface resembling ice crystals. The bodies are decorated with elegant naturalistic compositions of flowering poppies, gracefully curved stems, large serrated leaves and hanging seed capsules.

The flowers are highlighted with rich gilding, while the leaves are delicately coloured in muted green, amber and reddish tones. The contrast between the shimmering gold ornament and the frosted glass creates a striking decorative effect characteristic of the finest French Art Nouveau glass.

The upper rims are finished with narrow gilt bands. The floral compositions extend around the cylindrical bodies, demonstrating the harmonious botanical design associated with the Mont Joye range.

Both vases retain a gilt maker’s mark beneath the bases, featuring the characteristic Mont Joye emblem with an ecclesiastical figure and the initials L.C., referring to Legras & Cie.

Historical background:

François-Théodore Legras (1839–1916) was one of the important French glassmakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His glassworks at Saint-Denis, near Paris, became known for high-quality decorative glass combining acid-etched surfaces, coloured enamelling, gilding and elaborate naturalistic ornament.

Mont Joye was a prestigious decorative range associated with Legras & Cie. Its production included elaborate floral vases featuring finely frosted surfaces and richly gilded or enamel-painted motifs.

Poppies were among the favoured flowers of the Art Nouveau movement, admired for their delicate petals, flowing stems and elegant natural shapes.

The present pair represents a particularly attractive example of Mont Joye production, combining substantial proportions, finely executed poppy decoration and original gilt factory marks.

Maker:
Mont Joye — Legras & Cie.

Material:
Acid-frosted glass, polychrome enamel and gilding.

Marks:
Gilt Mont Joye / L.C. factory marks beneath the bases.

Origin:
France, Saint-Denis near Paris.

Period:
Circa 1900, Art Nouveau.

Dimensions:
Height of each vase: 39.5 cm.

Weight:
Total weight of the pair: 3.58 kg.

Condition:
Age-related wear, light surface scratches and some rubbing to the gilding and enamel decoration. Both vases are shown from multiple angles in the photographs.

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The vase features a rounded, almost spherical body, a short cylindrical neck and a thick rolled rim. It is executed in pink frosted glass with soft rose and amber tones, creating an attractive contrast between the matte body and the translucent rim.

The surface is decorated with naturalistic purple flowers, gilt petals, leaves and slender stems arranged asymmetrically around the body. The botanical motifs are characteristic of French Art Nouveau decorative glass and reflect the influence of nature on glassmaking at the turn of the 20th century.

The design and execution are characteristic of the work of François-Théodore Legras (1839–1916), whose glassworks at Saint-Denis near Paris produced a wide range of decorative glass with floral motifs, coloured finishes and gilded ornament.

Although the vase is unsigned, its form, surface treatment and floral decoration support an attribution to Legras.

Maker:
Attributed to Legras, unsigned.

Material:
Pink frosted glass with coloured and gilt floral decoration.

Origin:
France.

Period:
Circa 1900, Art Nouveau.

Dimensions:
Height: 18.5 cm.

Weight:
1.2 kg.

Condition:
Age-related surface wear, rubbing and partial losses to the gilding and floral decoration, particularly around the rim. Condition is shown in the photographs.

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The vase is of tall cylindrical tapering form, made in dark iridescent glass with green and amber reflections. The surface is decorated with gilt Art Nouveau ornament composed of vertical vine stems, grape clusters and stylised leaves. The gilded design contrasts beautifully with the deep coloured glass and gives the piece an elegant decorative character.

The underside bears the mark “L St. Denis – Paris”, used for Legras production at Saint-Denis near Paris. François-Théodore Legras and the Saint-Denis glassworks were among the important French art glass makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for decorative vases, enamelled glass, cameo-style decoration and Art Nouveau forms.

Material:
Glass, iridescent surface, gilt decoration.

Mark:
“L St. Denis – Paris” to the underside.

Maker:
Legras / Saint-Denis glassworks.

Origin:
France, Saint-Denis near Paris.

Period:
Late 19th – early 20th century.

Dimensions:
Height: 26 cm.

Condition:
Age-related wear, minor rubbing to the gilding, light surface marks and traces of use may be present. Condition is shown in the photographs.

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