Émile Gallé Enamelled Glass Vase. Nancy, 1894-1897.

Pioneer of Art Nouveau and founder of the École de Nancy, Émile Gallé (1846-1904) was a master glassmaker and brilliant designer. Gallé’s first experiences in the field of enamelled glass date back to the 1860s, thanks to the studies at his father’s majolica factory in Saint-Clément and his participation at the 1867 Universal Exhibition. In the early 1870s, Gallé began his personal experiments with glazes, looking for a way to eliminate the difficulties inherent in vitrification. It has been supposed in the past that he abandoned enamelled pieces when his experiments with glass during the 1880s and 1890s led him to the new processes of “inlaying” and glass patination. In reality, it is certain that he continued to produce a wide range of crystal pieces enriched with enamelled designs, including this particular vase, manufactured between 1894 and 1897. Stylistically, our vase is well aligned with the Art Nouveau production of the late XIX century and it is emphasized by a strong taste for oriental culture and motifs.
The dating to the period between 1894-1897 was made possible thanks to the calligraphic writing of the engraved signature and the use of the term “glassware”, applied by Émile in the mid 1890s.