Art Nouveau glass; France, early 20th century.

Art Nouveau glass; France, early twentieth century.
Cameo glass.
Measurements: 18 x 15,5 cm.
French Art Nouveau vase from the early twentieth century, made in cameo glass, one of the most refined and representative techniques of the decorative arts of this movement.
The vase presents an organic form, gently domed and crowned by a narrow, undulating neck, evoking the fluidity and sinuous lines characteristic of the style. The decoration, carved in several layers of overlapping glass, shows a twilight landscape: stylized trees framing a lake scene with small boats, all wrapped in a warm atmosphere of amber, orange and reddish tones.
Cameo glass was obtained by superimposing layers of glass of different colors, which were then etched or acid-etched to reveal the design in relief. This method, perfected by master glassmakers such as Émile Gallé or the Daum house, made it possible to achieve an extraordinary contrast between the luminous background and the dark silhouettes, generating effects of depth and light that evoked the changes in nature.