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Daum Objets d'Art and Vertu

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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Creator: Daum
Antique French Nancy Signed Art Nouveau Mucha Majorelle Gruber Style Glass Box
Antique French Nancy Signed Art Nouveau Mucha Majorelle Gruber Style Glass Box

Antique French Nancy Signed Art Nouveau Mucha Majorelle Gruber Style Glass Box

By Daum

Located in Chicago, IL

Influenced by the Art-Nouveau illustrations of Alphonse Mucha, this Nancy-signed antique French enameled glass jewelry box display case is decora...

Category

1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Daum Objets d'Art and Vertu

Materials

Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal, Silver Plate, Brass, Bronze

Art Deco Daum Nancy France Signed Glass Applications Lead Crystal Sculpted Vase
Art Deco Daum Nancy France Signed Glass Applications Lead Crystal Sculpted Vase

Art Deco Daum Nancy France Signed Glass Applications Lead Crystal Sculpted Vase

By Daum

Located in Chicago, IL

Art glass vase signed: Daum Nancy France. Evidenced by this Daum sculptural colorless blown and hot-shaped lead-crystal heavy vessel vase, the finest irreproducible artistic works in the history of the iconic French decorative-glass maker feature ornamental thick glass applications. Its most in-demand pieces today were made between 1925 and 1935, with very few major ArtDeco-period pieces remaining in private hands and even less without damage. A similarly shaped, constructed and sized circa-1925 vase with "stylized foliage" motif is in the collection of the French Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris as Inventory #36309 acquired from Don Jacques Daum. A later-produced vase with a similar application-motif at just the rim, but in a "Champagne" bubbled style, is among the photos in the published book about the Leo and Irina Esterkin acquisitions from 1910-1940 titled Daum Art Deco Glass--A Private Collection. On our prime-condition antique vase, applied transparent glass is styled in high relief into a flowing undulating motif that evolved from Daum's Art Nouveau foliage designs. The angular and curvilinear shapes of this vessel epitomize the bold vases, bowls and sculptures for which Daum is best known. Its tiny pencil-etched signature on the side near the bottom reads "Daum (plus the Lorraine-cross symbol) Nancy France", which resembles some published signatures since 1925. Revealing how ahead of its time this particular design was--after WWII in 1945 coinciding with the revitalization of the French glass industry--Daum used...

Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Daum Objets d'Art and Vertu

Materials

Crystal

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Daum objets d'art and vertu for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of Daum objets d'art and vertu available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using silver. While looking for the most stylish antique or vintage Daum jewelry to pair with your ensemble, you’ll find that Daum crystal objets d'art and vertu, from our inventory of 1, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look. We have 3 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. art deco and Art Nouveau are among the most popular styles of Daum objets d'art and vertu available on 1stDibs. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 1920s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider objets d'art and vertu by Hermès, Boucheron, and Cartier. Prices for Daum objets d'art and vertu can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,825 and tops out at $24,975, while pieces like these, on average, can sell for $3,350.
Questions About Daum Objets d'Art and Vertu
  • 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 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 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 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 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.