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 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
Daum France Crystal Desktop Accessory Paperweight Sculpture, circa 1950
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum designed this stunning crystal abstract freeform desktop paperweight. The rare piece was crafted in France circa 1950. The sculpture-paperweight features an outstanding Mid-Cent...
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
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 Crystal Marly Car Relief Decorative Paperweight Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning crystal car paperweight sculpture is by Daum, France, and was made in Nancy circa 1980. This exceptional original design is from artist and sculptor Xavier Froissart, a...
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 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
Daum France Crystal Turtle Paperweight Sculpture, circa 1970
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this stunning crystal turtle figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the early 1970s. The sculpture features a lovely turtle with dimensional ca...
Crystal
Daum France - Paperweight Decorative Flower Rose Passion Pink Crystal
By Daum
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Decorative Flower - Rose Passion" made in pink crystal by Daum France. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Dimensions: 11 cm x 11 cm.
Crystal
Mid-Century French Signed Daum Paperweight Sculpture in Clear Crystal
By Daum
Located in COLMAR, FR
A magnificent, crystal desktop paperweight by renowned French crystal maker Daum. This is a unique, hand-made piece in transparent crystal, engraved on the bottom edge with the recog...
Crystal
Daum France Crystal Elephant Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal elephant figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1970s. The sculpture features a lovely sitting elephant with dim...
Crystal
Daum France - Paperweight Decorative Flower Rose Passion Orange & Green Crystal
By Daum
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Decorative Flower - Rose Passion" made in gradient orange and green crystal by Daum France. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Dimensions: 11 cm x 11 cm.
Crystal
Daum France - Paperweight Decorative Flower Rose Passion Black Crystal
By Daum
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Decorative Flower - Rose Passion" made in black crystal by Daum France. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Dimensions: 11 cm x 11 cm.
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
$624Sale Price|20% Off
Daum France Crystal Sailboat Paperweight, Mid-20th Century, 11\" Wide
By Daum
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An intriguing crystal ornament, or paperweight, in the shape of a stylised three-masted sailing boat, made by legendary crystal manufacturer DAUM France. In excellent condition, its ...
Crystal
Signed Decorative Leaf Shaped Daum Crystal Vide-Poches, France, 1970's
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
Elegant leaf shaped etched vide-poches or paperweight by Daum Nanct France. In pristine condition. This piece wlll ship from France and can be returned to either France or to a LIC...
Crystal
Daum France - Paperweight Decorative Flower Rose Passion Frosted Crystal
By Daum
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Decorative Flower - Rose Passion" made in frosted crystal by Daum France. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Dimensions: 11 cm x 11 cm.
Crystal
Daum France - Paperweight Decorative Flower Rose Passion Blue & Pink Crystal
By Daum
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Decorative Flower - Rose Passion" made in gradient pink and blue crystal by Daum France. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Dimensions: 11 cm x 11 cm.
Crystal
Daum France Blown Crystal Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape Red Blue White
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Daum
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Daum France Blown Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape in Red and Blue Flower Swirl. Signed Decorative Egg Shaped Crystal Art Daum France, 1970's. Vintage Signed Etched Daum...
Crystal
Daum France Crystal Dog Basset Paperweight Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal basset hound figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the early 1970s. The sculpture features a lovely dog with dimensional...
Crystal
Daum Pate de Verre Glass Butterfly Perfume Bottle
By Daum
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Daum Pate de Verre Glass Butterfly Perfume Bottle Signed, Daum France. The spherical colorless glass body on a circular foot, with an amber and yellow pate de verre butterfly stoppe...
Glass
Daum Pate de Verre Amaryllis Vase, Signed Daum, France Number 94
By Daum
Located in Lexington, KY
Daum Pate de Verre Amaryllis Vase in pinks and greens. This piece is signed Daum, France and numbered 94. This piece has been retired and is no longer in production. Since 1878,...
Glass
Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with intricate white, light blue, and dark blue ribbons / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Origina...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with white "filigrana" - white filaments intricately superimposed and intertwined within the glass / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Me...
Murano Glass
$818
H 3.94 in W 11.03 in D 4.73 in
Dorothy Thorpe Midcentury Crystal Lucite American Knot Paperweight Sculpture
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury crystal Lucite American knot paperweight sculpture. This wonderful piece was designed by Dorothy Thorpe in America during the 1960s. An amazing item with a unique knot ...
Lucite
Daum Crystal Pate de Verre Flower Bowl
By Daum
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a Daum crystal Pate de Verre single flower (it can be a Groundsel) and large leaves bowl depicting different shades of blue and turquoi...
Crystal
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car
By Xavier Froissart, Daum
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
Venini Glass Paperweight
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
This egg-shaped Venini glass paperweight has a purple spiral encased in an orange spiral. It still bears the original Venini label with the Veronese va...
Glass
$370
H 4.5 in W 5.5 in D 2 in
Daum France Polar Bear Glass Crystal Clear Modern Sculpture Paperweight Figurine
By Daum
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This contemporary figurine, sculpture or paperweight of an icey polar bear is hand crafted by Daum France. Made of crystal clear glass resembling an ice carving represents the epitom...
Crystal
Hermes Desktop Magnifier Paperweight in Silver, 1960s
By Hermès
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Hermes Paris magnifying glass desk accessory with domed lens ensconced in a silver frame with a belt design. We've left the oxidation and patina untouched and simply added a ...
Sterling Silver
Pair of Bronze Paperweights, circa 1970, France.
By Monique Gerber
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of paperweights in the shape of pebbles, circa 1970, France. Gilded bronze. Dimensions: pebble one: 9 x 8 x 3 cm, pebble two: 8 x 7 x 3 cm. All purchases are covered by our Buye...
Bronze
Daum France Crystal Teddy Bear Sculpture, Signed
By Daum
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Charming vintage decorative sculpture of paperweight was created by the historic French glassworks company Daum, founded in 1878. Daum teddy bears were produced not only as decorativ...
Crystal
Stylized Sitting Cat Sculpture / Paperweight by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized sitting cat sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the...
Crystal
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H 1.19 in W 2.38 in D 2 in
Daum France Pate de Verre Crystal Rose Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
This charming pate de verre frosted crystal rose paperweight or decorative sculpture is by Daum, France, and was hand-made in the 1970s. The sculpture features a delicate rose flower...
Crystal
Sold
H 3.15 in W 8.67 in D 3.94 in
Pomegranate and Arrow Paperweight by Hilton McConnico for Daum, France, 1990s.
By Hilton McConnico, Daum
Located in Lille, FR
Pomegranate and Arrow Paper Weight from "the lost arrows of William Tell" by Hilton McConnico for Daum. Signed.
Bronze
Sold
H 2.5 in W 2.5 in D 3 in
Wonderful Crystal Daum Pate De Verre Papillon Butterfly On Leaf Flower Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Crystal Daum Pate De Verre Papillon Butterfly Perched On A Leaf & Flower Sculpture Paperweight
Crystal
Small Crystal Butterfly Sculpture / Paperweight by Daum, France
By Daum
Located in San Diego, CA
Small crystal butterfly sculpture / paperweight by Daum of France, circa 1970s. The etched signature reads "Daum France" and the sculpture is in very...
Crystal
Daum, France Crystal Rose Passion Paperweight/ Decorative Piece
By Daum
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a charming pate de verre frosted crystal rose paperweight painted in wine and green color in its petals. Under the rose is signed Daum, France. The gift of a rose, always expres...
Crystal