CRYSTAL FANTASY

With over 140 years of experience crafting the finest crystal works of art, Maison Daum collaborates with Belgian artist Madeleine van der Knoop, enriching its precious heritage.

- KIRAN PILLAY

Since 1878, French crystal and glass studio Maison Daum has sought to create captivating expressions of the living world in precious materials, immortalising the beauty of nature with great skill. By the 1900s, the Nancy-based maison began to produce glass animals, investing over a century in reinforcing its unique identity with boundless inventiveness and savoirfaire. From figures of prancing horses and playful elephants to majestic birds, Daum has come to specialise in creating exceptional works of art with meticulous attention to detail and superb quality in craftsmanship.

The secret behind the maison's unparalleled ability to manipulate fragile materials lies in the Daum brothers' rare and ancient technique of using pâte de verre or coloured glass casting, allowing the creation of more complex sculptures with unusual shapes and colours. The specialised method inspired Paul Daum, grandson of founder Jean Daum, to develop works in the Art Deco style following World War I, effectively launching the movement.