Charles Schneider for Le Verre Français

CHARLES SCHNEIDER (1881–1953) for Le Verre Français.
Malva Vase, ca. 1930.
Press-molded glass.
Work cited in Charles Schneider, *Le Verre Français*, by Marie-Christine Joulin and Gerold Maier. Wissner, p. 334.
Measurements: 31 x 20 x 16 cm.
This vase stands out for the richness of its material and the characteristic opalescent effect of its decoration. The glass displays a delicate gradation of purple and white hues, creating a chromatic transition of great subtlety and depth. The piece epitomizes Schneider’s Art Deco glass aesthetic, in which the interplay of light, color, and material takes center stage.
After studying glass engraving in Paris, Schneider opened a glass factory in 1909 with his brother; following its closure at the outbreak of the war, it reopened in 1917 under the name Verriers Schneider. He introduced cameos featuring floral and animal designs into the glass pieces, heralding the Art Deco style. In 1921, he launched a line under the brand name “Le Verre Français,” in which he introduced what was known as “glass marquetry.” Inspired by wood marquetry, the design was carved out of the vase and filled with colored glass. His artistic glass pieces were sold at Galeries Lafayette, Le Printemps, and the Delvaux and Rouard art galleries. The glass pieces from Le Verre Français were made exclusively using the etching and acid techniques. On occasion, he used wheel engraving with various layers of glass. Always innovative, Schneider created a new technique involving colored powders mixed with metal oxides to achieve special colors.