René Lalique

RENÉ LALIQUE (Ay, France, 1860 – Paris, 1945).
“Monnaie du Pape” vase, a model created in 1914.
Molded glass, with relief decoration, partially satin-finished and polished.
Signed on the base.
Bibliography: Félix Marcilhac, René Lalique: 1860–1945, maître-verrier. Analysis and Catalog Raisonné of the Glass Works, Les Éditions de l’Amateur, Paris, 2011, no. 897, p. 416 (model reproduced).
In good condition. Exhibits sligthly wear consistent with age and use on the base.
Measurements: 23.5 x 17 x 17 cm.

This vase is an outstanding example of René Lalique’s glasswork, whose renewal of the decorative arts was based on the interpretation of natural motifs and experimentation with the expressive possibilities of glass. Designed in 1914, the “Monnaie du Pape” model takes its name from the plant Lunaria annua, recognizable by its characteristic rounded, translucent capsules, which the artist transforms into an elegant ornamental motif.

The piece features an ovoid body and a botanical decoration that covers its entire surface. The sinuous stems and circular forms are arranged in a relief of varying depth, combining satin-finished and polished areas that create attractive effects of transparency and luminosity. The interplay of textures and the harmony of its proportions reflect the influence of Modernist naturalism, reinterpreted through a refined aesthetic.

René Lalique was one of the leading figures in French decorative arts, initially noted as an Art Nouveau jeweler and later as a master glassmaker. His technical innovations and his distinctive interpretation of nature contributed decisively to the renewal of glass design during the early decades of the 20th century. He participated in the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, and his work is represented in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.