“Art for art’s sake” was a belief strongly espoused by the celebrated French designer and glassworker Émile Gallé. Through his ethereal glass vases, other vessels and lamps, which he adorned with botanical and religious motifs, Gallé advanced the Art Nouveau ideology and led the modern renaissance of French glass.
Gallé was the son of successful faience and furniture maker Charles Gallé but studied philosophy and botany before coming to glassmaking later in life. The young Gallé’s expertise in botany, however, would inform his design style and become his signature for generations to come.
After learning the art of glassmaking, Gallé went to work at his father’s factory in Nancy. He initially created clear glass objects but later began to experiment with layering deeply colored glass.
While glassmakers on Murano had applied layers of glass and color on decorative objects before Gallé had, he was ever-venturesome in his northeastern France, taking advantage of defects that materialized during his processes and etching in natural forms like insects such as dragonflies, marine life, the sun, vines, fruits and flowers modeled from local specimens.
Gallé is also credited with reviving cameo glass, a glassware style that originated in Rome. He used cabochons, which were applied raised-glass decorations colored with metallic oxides and made to resemble rich jeweling. Gallé's cameo glass vases and vessels were widely popular at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, cementing his position as a talented designer and pioneer.
During the late 19th century, Gallé led breakthroughs in mass production and employed hundreds of artisans in his workshop.
Botany and nature remained great sources of inspiration for the artist's glassmaking — just as they had for other Art Nouveau designers. From approximately 1890 to 1910, the movement’s talented designers produced furniture, glass and architecture in the form of — or adorned with — gently intertwining trees, flowers and vines. But Gallé had many interests, such as Eastern art and ceramics. The Japanese collection he visited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (then the South Kensington Museum) during the 1870s had made an impression too.
Breaking free from the rigid Victorian traditions, Gallé infused new life and spirit into the art and design of his time through exquisitely crafted glass vessels and pioneering new glassworking techniques.
Find a collection of Émile Gallé vases and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Émile Gallé Art Nouveau Folding Games Table, circa 1902–1904
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
Émile Gallé (French, 1846–1904) Folding Games Table (Table à Jeux) Circa 1902–1904 An exceptional Art Nouveau folding games table by Émile Gallé, masterfully crafted in molded cedar...
Wood
French Art Nouveau Marquetry Table by Émile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th Century Émile Gallé Double-Tier Inlaid Tea Table France This refined double-tier tea table exemplifies the poetic naturalism and technical mastery of Émile Gallé, one of t...
Wood
Émile Gallé Set of Four Nesting Tables
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
These four nesting tables by Émile Gallé exemplify the artist’s poetic sensitivity to nature and his virtuosity in marquetry. Each tabletop presents a distinct inlaid composition of ...
Fruitwood, Walnut
Amazing set of Art Nouveau Nesting Tables by Emile Galle ''Thistle'' 1905 Walnut
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
A set of four French Art Nouveau nesting tables by Emile Gallé decorated with fruitwood marquetry in a motif of carlile thistle and butterflies. Each table represents a different sta...
Wood, Walnut
Émile Gallé “Fleur de l’Eau” Three-tiered Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite three-tiered table by Émile Gallé presents a stunning vignette of water flowers, each tier depicting a different flower. The top tier features intricate marquetry depi...
Fruitwood, Walnut
Original French Art Nouveau Marquetry Table ''Japonisme'' by Emile Galle 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Very rare original Emile Galle ''plate 66 Japonisme'' side table in Art Nouveau style. This beautiful side table was created by Emile Galle in 1900, during the art nouveau period. It features exquisite marquetry woodwork that is inspired by the Japonisme movement, which was influenced by Japanese art and design. The side table is decorated with breathtaking Magnolia flowers & a romantic couple of butterflies. Made from various types of wood, creating a unique scenery almost like a painting. The table showcases intricate details, such as delicate foliage and organic forms, that are hallmarks of art nouveau style. Galle was renowned for his innovative techniques and attention to detail, and this piece is a testament to his mastery of the craft. It is a stunning example of the art nouveau movement and a true work of art. Literature: ''Galle furniture by Alastair Duncan and Georges de Bartha 2012 Page 153. Plate 66. This Emile Galle table...
Walnut, Fruitwood, Rosewood
Émile Gallé Art Nouveau Side Table, Marquetry Wood, France, Circa 1910
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Art Nouveau table, made in marquetry, by Émile Gallé (1846-1904). Signed Galle France, CIRCA 1910.
Wood
Emile Galle Marquetry Two Tiered Walnut and Fruitwood Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle (1846-1904) Two-Tiered Table Circa 1900 Émile Gallé French Walnut and Fruitwood Marquetry Two-Tiered Pedestal table. This Art Nouveau classic two tiered French walnut p...
Walnut, Fruitwood
Emile Galle Marquetry Three Tier Dragonfy and Botanical Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle (1846-1904) Three-Tiered Table Circa 1900 This three tiered, four legged French walnut table with "Libellules," or "Dragonflies," fruitwood marquetry decoration, by Émil...
Fruitwood, Oak
Extremely Rare Nest of Emile Galle circa 1900 Specimen Wood Tables Art Nouveau
By Émile Gallé
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Emile Galle nest of three sample wood tables If you are looking at this listing then the chance ...
Satinwood
Emile Galle French Art Nouveau Lift Top Marquetry Floral Inlaid Wooden Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau occasional / dressing table with an elaborate inlaid floral and pastoral design that lifts on two brass hinges to reveal an interior mirror and inlaid floral desig...
Metal, Brass
Galle Large Dining Room Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Emile Galle large dining room table. One extra leaf can be displayed permanently, you may add other leafs as the table gets gigantic. In need...
Wood
Emile Galle "Ombelles" Floral and Pastoral Marquetry Writing Desk
By Émile Gallé
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau writing desk featuring an open upper section with a marquetry inlaid pasteral scene back panel under a carved floral...
Wood
Original French Art Nouveau game table / side table by Emile Gallé 1905 chestnut
By Émile Gallé, Gallé
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most rare! This marvelous games table by Emile Galle. The top is richly decorated with a masterfully inlay of various woods. Depicting multiple chestnut leaves in differe...
Wood, Walnut
$16,010Sale Price|20% Off
Original Art Nouveau Pedestal by Emile Galle 1890 French Antique Inlaid Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Breathtaking & Most rare! This French Art Nouveau Pedestal by famous designer Emile Galle with early signature circa 1890. Exquisite Art ...
Wood, Fruitwood, Rosewood
French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau two-tiered square pedestal with carved and marquetry decoration by Emile Gallé. The pedestal has two marquetry shelves depicting leaves. Its four sinuous legs ar...
Wood
$2,276Sale Price|20% Off
Table d'appoint Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Guéridon tripode en forme de blason marqueté sur son plateau d'une branche de chardon et d'une croix de Lorraine. La marqueterie est composée de palissandre, noyer, merisier, acajou ...
Wood
Emile Galle French Art Nouveau Floral Marquetry Rotating Top Occasional Table
By Émile Gallé
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau occasional table with a circular top with shaped edge and floral marquetry inlay that rotates on a central axis, resting on four tapered sabre legs joined by a squ...
Wood
Art Nouveau Side Table by Emille Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Art nouveau side table by Emille Gallé with water lily and dragonfly inlay. Professionally stained and repolished.
Wood
French Inlay Wood Coffee Table by Emile Gallé (1846-1904)
By Émile Gallé
Located in IT
Elegant coffee table in finely inlaid wood, signed Emile Gallé (1846-1904), France This refined coffee table is the work of the French cabinetmaker and ceramist Emile v (1846-1904)....
Fruitwood
French Art Nouveau Game Table by Emile Galle
By Émile Gallé
Located in Bridgewater, CT
French Art Nouveau game table by Emile Galle.
Wood
VERY RARE EMILE GALLE ROMANTIC SPECiMEN WOOD TABLE "WHEN I SING, LOVE WILL END"
By Émile Gallé
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Emile Galle signed occasional table with sample wood top depicting a Rooster and a q...
Walnut
Price Upon Request
Rare Art Nouveau Nesting Tables with Botanical Marquetry by Émile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in San Francisco, CA
Rare set of nesting tables by Émile Gallé, a leading figure of the French Art Nouveau movement. Each table features detailed botanical marquetry, with inlaid signatures at the top. T...
Wood
1940s French Modern Three-Tier Side Table
Located in High Point, NC
This 1940s French Modern three-tier side table features a clean, architectural silhouette that reflects the era’s shift toward functional design with refined simplicity. Crafted in w...
Wood
English Edwardian Folding Games Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine and unusual games table is of rare form, circa 1900 and 1910, is made of mahogany and deal secondaries. The brass fittings have all been chrome-plated, a feature usually re...
Mahogany
French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau two-tiered square pedestal with carved and marquetry decoration by Emile Gallé. The pedestal has two marquetry shelves depicting leaves. Its four sinuous legs ar...
Wood
Art Nouveau Side Table by Emille Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Art nouveau side table by Emille Gallé with water lily and dragonfly inlay. Professionally stained and repolished.
Wood
Louis Majorelle French Art Nouveau Games Table
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau games table by Louis Majorelle, featuring an inlaid marquetry top and carved legs and skirt. The marquetry decoration features stems, leave and, flowers around a...
Wood
Classic Three-Tier Side Table, Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Classic three-tier side table. A small rectangle tiered end table with two shelves, and tapered feet, has a "country" wood mahogany stain with natural highlights. Dimensions: 22" ...
Wood
Set of Four French Art Nouveau Nesting Tables
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set off four French Art Nouveau nesting tables,late 19th or early 20th century. Dimensions; 56 x 39 x 74 cm. 49 x 36 x 72 cm. 42 x 32 x 70 cm. 36 x 29 x 68 cm.
Wood
1900s French Art Nouveau Wooden Side Table With Floral Top
Located in High Point, NC
This 1900s French Art Nouveau wooden side table captures the movement’s characteristic fluidity and handcrafted elegance. Its gently arched legs, connected by lattice-style stretcher...
Wood
French Art Nouveau Wooden Pedestal by Emile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau selette by Émile Gallé. Gallé made very few selettes of this quality and design during his career, and even fewer of those with curved lower pieces that reunite ...
Wood
Three-Tier Neoclassical Mahogany Occasional Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Mahogany occasional table. Neoclassical style with three shelves supported on brass columns with ball finials. On casters.
Brass
Set of 4 Tables Gigognes signed Gallé
By Gallé
Located in Paris, FR
Gallé marquetry nesting tables in different woods, decorated with iris, wisteria, a frog on a water lily and umbellifers, composed of four elements. Signed Gallé.
Wood
$1,185Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.19 in W 15.75 in D 15.56 in
Oak Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts Side Table, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts side table. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s. Solid oak frame with hand-carved flowers on top and legs. This wonderful Art Nouveau ...
Oak
Sold
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 14.97 in
Emile Gallé Art Nouveau Marquetry Nest of Four Tables Seascape Boats, Circa 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Norwich, GB
Superb French Art Nouveau nest of tables with graduated tops, having specimen wood inlays with nautical themes of Brittany. Each table signed in marquetry, 'Gallé'. Circa 1900. Each table top is a work of art in its own right, a fabulous series representing seascapes of Brittany in specimen woods. Raised on beechwood chamfered openwork supports, united by stretchers. The main table shows a coastal landscape. The second having boats near the coastline, a lighthouse in the distance. The third, sailing boats at sea with light reflections. The fourth, Breton women in a rowing boat with light reflection, a gull in the foreground. The tables are in very good condition and have their original finish which has been lightly restored, cleaned and wax polished. Showing some age and use related patina marks to the tops. The top table has a few areas of inlay which have raised very slightly, please refer to photographs 17, 18 and 19. They are not loose, and it does not affect the table's use in any way. One of the legs has moved with age, as shown in the last photograph. This however is solid and does not affect the stability of the table. Emile Gallé (1846 – 1904) was one of the most important French designers of the Art Nouveau period. His career took off after his work received praise at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. Within a decade of another successful showing at the Paris Exhibition of 1889, Gallé had reached international fame and his style, with its emphasis on naturalism and floral motifs, was at the forefront of the emerging Art Nouveau movement. In 1901, together with Victor Prouvé, Louis Majorelle, Antonin Daum and Eugène Vallin...
Beech
Sold
H 29.93 in W 27.56 in D 16.15 in
Émile Gallé (1846-1904) An Art Nouveau occasional marquetery table circa 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Émile Gallé (1846-1904) An Art Nouveau occasional marquetery table circa 1900 Walnut and marquetry occasional table The shaped oval top inlaid with marquetry veneer decoration depic...
Fruitwood, Rosewood, Walnut
Emile GALLE French Art Nouveau Inlaid Side Table 1890
By Émile Gallé
Located in San Francisco, CA
French Art Nouveau inlaid two tiered side table by Émile Gallé, Thistle Motif, France, circa 1885–1890. A rare, genuine and exquisite French Art Nouveau small table designed by Émil...
Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut
Sold
H 27.76 in W 22.84 in D 15.16 in
Art Nouveau Set of Four Nesting Tables by Emile Galle Nancy France, 1900s
By Émile Gallé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare set of four Art Nouveau nesting tables. Design by Emile Gallé Nancy France. Striking French design from the 1900s. Four solid stained beech chamfered openwork su...
Beech, Walnut
Sold
H 25 in W 14.25 in D 14.25 in
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Period Marquetry Side Table, Signed Galle
By Émile Gallé
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This French Art Nouveau period walnut side table from the turn of the twentieth century is signed by the renowned artist Galle (Emile Galle 1846-1904). The tabletop features intricat...
Fruitwood, Sycamore, Walnut
Sold
H 28.35 in W 34.85 in D 24.81 in
E Gallé, Center Table With Thistle Decoration, Art Nouveau, 20th Century
By Émile Gallé
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pretty center table, with 2 tops decorated with thistles, 3 legs imitation bamboo stems The bottom top is signed Emile Gallé Nancy Slight traces of use Height 72cm 88.5 x ...
Wood
Emile GALLE French Art Nouveau Inlaid Small Side Table 1890
By Émile Gallé
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Nouveau Inlaid Side Table by Émile Gallé, Thistle Motif, France, circa 1885–1890. A rare, genuine and exquisite French Art Nouveau small table designed by Émile Gallé (Na...
Wood
Tea Table with 3 Trays by Emile Gallé, Art Nouveau, circa 1900.
By Émile Gallé
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Tea table with 3 trays by Emile Gallé, Art Nouveau, circa 1900. Tea table by Emile Gallé, Art Nouveau period, 1900, with three marquetry trays decorated with vegetation and butterfl...
Wood
A Table by Emile Gallé, circa 1925
By Émile Gallé
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
For a change, we delve into the realm of Art Nouveau with this table by Emile Gallé. A master glassmaker, cabinetmaker, and designer from the 19th century, Gallé was passionate about...
Wood
Emile Gallé Art Nouveau Marquetry Nest of Four Tables, ca. 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Petaluma, CA
These fabulous art nouveau period tables were made by the noted French artist Emile Gallé. Known for his beautiful glass works and his furniture, his commitment to quality is easy ...
Wood
Sold
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 14.57 in
Set Of Four Art Nouveau Nesting Marquetry Tables, By Émile Gallé France, Ca 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of Art Nouveau tea tables: Four nesting side tables with ornate floral marquetry, designed by the famous Art Nouveau designer Émile Gallé, made in his workshop in Nancy, France, ...
Walnut
French Art Nouveau Marquetry Table by Emile Gallé
By Émile Gallé
Located in Kastrup, DK
Emile Gallé, 1846-1904 A French Art Nouveau tray table crafted in walnut. Table top features exquisite floral marquetry woodwork in fruitwood and different wood species. With cabinet...
Fruitwood, Walnut