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.
Desk Daum Nancy in parchment (leather), Liberty or Art Nouveau, Jugendstil
By Louis Majorelle, Daum
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Bronze
Bronze Desk with Black or Brown Leather Wrapped Top
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in Ballard, CA
A hand-sculpted and forged bronze desk with brown or black leather wrapped top and drawer, fastened by bronze nails. Custom sizes, finishes and glass top available. Interior of drawe...
Bronze
$5,744 / item
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 17.72 in
Modern Black Writing Table Desk or Vanity Console in high gloss
By Renats Kotlevs
Located in Riga, LV
Refined elegance and classic design characterize the Kanttari Writing Desk. The definition of rich furniture design, this beautiful writing desk is handmade with soft to touch black ...
Brass
Art Deco Leather Desk, Light Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Art Deco style shagreen embossed leather desk in a light grey. With gilded highlight trim, three frieze drawers with modern round pulls, and raised on square tapered legs. ...
Leather
Art Deco Style Leather Top Desk
By Global Views
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Three drawer desk or writing table crafted in mahogany with a white leather top over a sleek elegant form with art deco influence, finished all around with a convex mirror on the bac...
Leather, Mahogany
$4,600
H 29.25 in W 32 in D 22.25 in
Antique Italian Art Nouveau Desk or Side Table in the Manner of Louis Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Chicago, IL
A study in proportion and material, this petite writing desk, dating to the early 1900s, reflects the sensibility of the Art Nouveau period, in the manner of Louis Majorelle. Its sc...
Wood, Parchment Paper
Modern Industrial Leather Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern industrial leather desk with a solid hammered metal base. It has three drawers accented with cast brass campaign drawer pulls. Dimensions...
Metal
Art Deco Leather Desk, Dark Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Art Deco style shagreen embossed leather desk in a dark antiqued grey. With gilded highlight trim, three frieze drawers with modern round pulls, and raised on square tapered...
Leather
Antique Hepplewhite Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable early 19th century Hepplewhite partners desk having the original tooled leather top in a crossbanded border, a case with three drawers in each side with beechwood...
Leather, Wood
$3,100
H 29 in W 18 in D 18 in
Rare Art Nouveau Jugendstil Single Drawer Writing Desk Cabriole Louis Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Peoria, AZ
EXQUISITE! JUGENDSTIL SINGLE DRAWER WRITING DESK UNIQUE CABRIOLE LEGS OAK & VARIOUS WOODS MAGNIFICENT! (DIMENSIONS: Approximately 29" Tall By 18" Wide By 18" Deep) H...
Fruitwood, Oak
$9,880 / item
H 30 in W 71 in D 34.75 in
Medium Dark Walnut Architect Adjustable Desk with Black or Brown Leather Insets
Located in Ballard, CA
The Iconic Jean Pierre desk named after the famous actor Jean Pierre Aumont is an handcrafted desk in solid walnut with black or brown leather insets,...
Leather, Wood, Walnut
$2,319Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.75 in W 21 in D 45.5 in
Desk , Small English Knee Hole Desk with Tooled Leather Top, Serpentine Front
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in Toronto, CA
A serpentine curved front, small English kneehole desk in classical mahogany Georgian styling. The gold(ish) brown antique looking tooled leather...
Leather, Hardwood
Modern Shagreen Leather Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern shagreen embossed leather-wrapped desk with a brass tone iron-framed base. Three drawers with marbleized paper-lined interiors and with brass ...
Metal
Architect Adjustable Desk with Black or Brown Leather Insets
Located in Ballard, CA
The Iconic Jean Pierre desk named after the famous actor Jean Pierre Aumont is an handcrafted desk in solid walnut with black or brown leather insets,...
Leather, Wood, Walnut
$22,800
H 29.92 in W 32.7 in D 24.4 in
Art Nouveau Marquetry Desk Table by Louis Majorelle, France 1900
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Vienna, AT
A French Art Nouveau desk table by Louis Majorelle, France, circa 1900-Signed, “L Majorelle.” Rare desk version with a drawer and the intricate twisted leg motive. The table top is ...
Fruitwood
$12,637
H 29.14 in W 29.53 in D 70.87 in
Shanghai Desk in Ziricotte Wood, Leather Top and Silver Patined Leg
By Aymeric Lefort
Located in SENLIS, OISE
Shanghai desk in Ziricotte wood, leather top and silver patined leg. The inside is made in Sycomore. Information about the covid 19. At this point, th...
Metal