THE career of René Lalique (1860–1945) could almost have been crafted for collectors. He first made his reputation as a jeweller, supplying, among others, Siegfried Bing, whose shop, La Maison de l’Art Nouveau, gave the style its name, and his designs owed much to his apprenticeship with Louis Aucoc, who was already working in that manner. Glass always played a part and one wonders whether Lalique’s fascination with the material may not have owed something to his surroundings during two years of training at the Crystal Palace School of Art. Together with the work of the Belgian Philippe Wolfers, Lalique’s brooches, hair combs, pendants and necklaces, which are often unique pieces, are the most striking in the style.
As Art Nouveau waned following its short dominance of Euro-pean fashion, Lalique transitioned into the foremost Art Deco glassmaker, best known for his iridescent vases, bowls and dishes, as well as for carbonnet mascots, but he also made impressive architectural pieces for hotels, Atlantic liners, including SS Normandie, and a church in Jersey. Some pieces were one-offs and even the commercial runs came in differing colours or tones. After his death, the business continued under his son Marc and granddaughter Marie-Claude, until it was sold in 1994. However, it no longer produced ‘Lalique glass’, turning instead to lead crystal.
Denne historien er fra March 01, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra March 01, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
