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Daum Figurative Sculptures

For collectors, Daum is a name in the first rank of the French makers of art glass, along with those of Émile Gallé and René Lalique. Led in its early decades by the brothers Auguste (1853–1909) and Antonin Daum (1864–1931), the company, based in the city of Nancy, established its reputation in the Art Nouveau period, and later successfully adopted the Art Deco style.

In 1878, lawyer Jean Daum took over the ownership of a glassworks as payment for a debt and installed his sons as proprietors. Initially, Daum made glass for everyday purposes such as windows, watches and tableware, but the success that Gallé enjoyed at the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris — the international showcase for which the Eiffel Tower was built — inspired the Daum brothers to begin making art-glass pieces. They produced popular works of cameo glass, a decorative technique in which an outer layer of glass is acid-etched or carved off to reveal the layer below, but Daum became best known for vessels and sculptures in pâte de verre — a painstaking method in which finely ground colored glass is mixed with a binder, placed in a mold and then fired in a kiln. 

Though early Daum glass was never signed by individual artists, the firm employed some of the masters of the naturalistic, asymmetrical Art Nouveau style, including Jacques Grüber, Henri Bergé and Amalric Walter (whose first name is frequently misspelled). Daum also collaborated with furniture and metalware designer Louis Majorelle, who created wrought-iron and brass mounts for vases and table lamps. In the 1960s, Daum commissioned fine artists, most notably Salvador Dalí and sculptor César Baldaccini, to design glass pieces. As you see from the works offered on 1stDibs, Daum has been home to an astonishingly rich roster of creative spirits and is today a state-owned enterprise making pâte de verre figurines. 

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Artist: Daum
Dan Dailey : Daum Figurative Glass Sculpture "Les Danseurs (The Dancers)"
By Daum
Located in Detroit, MI
"Les Danseurs" (French for "The Dancers") is a 1979 collaboration between Daum and artist Dan Dailey. This glass figurative sculpture of two dancers, a man and a woman coated in an icy blue palate, was created with glass paste blown in a light blue mold and etched on the external surface. This work is numbered 57 from an edition of 200, signed on the sculpture in diamond-point with "D Dailey" and "DAUM FRANCE" and is included with a certificate of authenticity signed and numbered by Daum and Dan Dailey. Dan Dailey is an American glass artist who was born in Philadelphia in 1947. He emerged from the Studio Glass movement that was founded by Harvey Lilleton and collaborated with Crisallerie Daum for more than twenty years. His education includes studying under Roland Jahn and Harvey Lilleton at the Philadelphia College of Art in the 1960s and a teaching fellowship at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1970 where he also became Dale Chihuly's first graduate student He is professor emeritus at the Massachusetts College of Art where he founded their glass program. His work has been exhibited and collected all over the world, spanning over a hundred exhibitions and collections. The studio of Daum is a name that precedes itself. The only crystal manufacturer employing the glass paste process for art glass, the studio was founded in 1878 by the Daum family in Nancy, France. The studio has become synonymous with the Art Nouveau period but continues to produce high end and high quality decorative art to this very day. Artists that have worked with Daum include Charles Schneider, Arman, Hilton McConnico, Philippe Starck, Salvador Dali, Cyril Phan, Richard Texier, Emilio Robba...
Category

1970s Daum Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Horse Carrying Fire by Hilton McConnico
By Daum
Located in Boca Raton, FL
A mythical piece of Daum's legacy, "Horse Carrying Fire" is inspired by legend. This magnificent horse with its fine silver embellishment appears to have stepped straight out of a th...
Category

20th Century Art Deco Daum Figurative Sculptures

Materials

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Size includes wood mounting. George Aarons (born Gregory Podubisky, in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1896 - died in Gloucester, Massachusetts 1980) was a distinguished sculptor who lived and taught in Gloucester, Massachusetts, for many years until his death in 1980. He had, many students in the area and he designed Gloucester's 350th Anniversary Commemorative Medal. Aarons moved from Russia to the United States when he was ten. His father was a merchant. He began taking drawing classes during evenings at Dearborn Public School in Boston as a teenager and went on to study at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1916. Aarons later moved to New York City to study with Jo Davidson, and other Paris-trained masters at the Beaux-Arts Institute. He eventually returned to the Boston area and established studios in Brookline and Gloucester, Massachusetts. During his lifetime, he was recognized internationally and won several prestigious awards. 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Previously Available Items
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Daum figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Daum figurative sculptures available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Daum in glass and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Art Deco style. Not every interior allows for large Daum figurative sculptures, so small editions measuring 13 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Erté, and Jean Cocteau. Daum figurative sculptures prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,200 and tops out at $14,000, while the average work can sell for $9,600.
Questions About Daum Figurative Sculptures
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    How Daum glass is made involves a process unique to the manufacturer, called pâte de verre. It involves filling a refractory mold with finely crushed glass and then baking the piece in a kiln. Shop a collection of Daum glassware on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, all Daum vases are signed. Authentic Daum glass work will have the signature “Daum Nancy” and incorporate the cross of Lorraine. Looking for a signature is one of the best ways to ensure authenticity. Browse a range of authentic Daum vases and other glassware on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, Daum glass is normally signed. The location of the company's mark varies, but it usually says "Daum Nancy" above, below or beside the cross of Lorraine, a cross with two crossbars. Find a variety of Daum glass on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024
    Yes, Daum crystal is typically marked. The French maker usually adds the word "Daum Nancy" and its logo, a double cross called the Cross of Lorraine, to its pieces. You can locate the mark in a discreet area, such as on the bottom of stemware and decorative objects. Find a selection of Daum Nancy crystal wares on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024
    To identify Daum crystal, look for the maker's mark, usually found at the bottom of the piece. Most crystal ware produced by the luxury maker will feature the brand's logo or a hand-applied artist's signature. You can compare the markings on your piece with images featured on trusted online resources to learn more about them. Alternatively, you can consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer for assistance with identification. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Daum crystal.

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