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.
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car
By Daum, Xavier Froissart
Located in New York, NY
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car. Highly detailed large glass depiction of a classic car with frosted tires and engine. Designed by Xavier F...
Crystal
Daum France Crystal Owl Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal owl figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1960s. The sculpture features a lovely night owl with dimensional car...
Crystal
$450
H 1 in Dm 2.57 in
Daum France Cobalt Blue Pate de Verre Cactus Flower Paperweight Sculpture, 1970s
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning pate de verre frosted crystal flower paperweight or decorative sculpture is by Daum, France, and was hand-made circa 1970. The sculpture features a lovely cactus flower...
Crystal
$1,380
H 3.5 in W 5.5 in D 1 in
Late 20th Century "The Circuit" Crystal Art Glass Motorcycle Sculpture by, Daum
By Xavier Froissart, Daum
Located in Englewood, NJ
A Late 20th Century crystal "The Circuit" art glass moto racing sculpture paperweight by, Daum. and designed by, Xavier Froissart. The crystal glass sculpture depicts a moto racer with bent knee leaning into curve giving it a realistic ook and one that is in motion. circa 1987 Measurements: height: 3-1/2" x length: 5.5 in. Signature: Signed "DAUM France" Biography: Xavier Froissart was the designer of the Signature series of Daum's crystal car...
Crystal
Daum Crystal Sulphide Paperweight, Blue Flower Design, France, 1970s
By Daum
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This stunning egg-shaped crystal paperweight is made by the legendary French glassmaker 'Daum', and features an incredibly intricate five-petalled violet-blue flower at its centre. K...
Crystal
Daum Crystal Cat Paperweight Sculpture, France circa 1960
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal kitty cat figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1960s. The sculpture features a lovely cat with dimensional car...
Crystal
Crystal Vase by Daum France
By Daum
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This elegant crystal vase is marked DAUM FRANCE. Typical is the classic and pure design in crystal glass. This vase is in very good condition.
Crystal
Daum Nancy Cameo and Enamel Glass Vase France, circa 1910
By Daum
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Daum Nancy cameo and enamel glass vase, France, circa 1910 Decorated with pink wild flowers on a mottled ground Cameo mark Daum Nancy with Lorraine cross Dimensions: Width 2 in. (5....
Glass
$250 / item
H 3.94 in W 2.94 in D 1.75 in
Daum France Crystal Teddy Bear Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal teddy bear paperweight or ornamental sculpture in the late 1970s. The sculpture features a lovely sitting bear with dimensional carving. T...
Crystal
Daum French Glass Floral Paperweight
By Daum
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning French art glass paperweight beautifully presented with a single central flower head by renowned glass makers Daum and dating from the 20th century. The paperweight is han...
Blown Glass
Daum Crystal Vase French
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, small, and substantial French crystal vase from luxury Maison, Daum, in the modern Minimalist styles, circa 20th century, France. The piece is rectangular in shape with ...
Crystal
Italian Crystal Paperweight Ferrari Car 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Crystal Paperweight Ferrari Car 1970s
Crystal
Crystal Bowl by Daum France
By Daum
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This elegant crystal bowl is marked DAUM FRANCE. Typical is the classic and pure design in crystal glass. This vase is in very good condition.
Crystal
Sold
H 12.5 in W 9 in D 3 in
Rhinostellation, Crystal Paste & Solid Silver by Richard Texier, Daum France
By Daum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rhinostellation, Crystal Paste & Solid Silver by Richard Texier, Daum France
Silver, Bronze