Art Nouveau Vase. DAUM, Nancy, ca. 1900–1910

Art Nouveau vase. DAUM, Nancy, ca. 1900–1910.
Multilayered glass with acid-etched cameo decoration.
Signed “Daum Nancy” with the Cross of Lorraine in relief.
In good condition.
Measurements: 57.5 cm high x 14 cm in diameter.

This vase is an outstanding example of Daum’s glasswork during the height of the Art Nouveau period, a time when the Nancy factory achieved extraordinary technical and artistic advancement. Its remarkable height and the rich colors of the decorative landscape accentuate the piece’s sculptural character.

With a slender cylindrical body, a slightly flared mouth, and a circular base, it features a lakeside landscape composition, with slender-trunked trees silhouetted against a background of yellow, orange, and reddish tones, evoking a sunset. The decoration, created by layering glass and acid etching, produces varying planes of depth, while the dark silhouettes of the vegetation contrast with the luminosity of the landscape. The motif’s wraparound design allows the viewer to appreciate the continuity of the scene around the body.

The Daum glassworks, founded in Nancy in 1878 and developed artistically under the direction of the brothers Auguste and Antonin Daum, was one of the leading representatives of the Nancy School and the French Art Nouveau movement. Its work was noted for its experimentation with multilayered glass, enamels, and engraving techniques, earning it the Grand Prix at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair. Antonin Daum served as vice president of the École de Nancy from its founding in 1901. The manufactory’s historic body of work is represented in major institutions such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, which houses an extensive collection dedicated to Daum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.