“Art for art’s sake” was a belief strongly espoused by the celebrated French designer and glassworker Émile Gallé. Through his ethereal glass vases, other vessels and lamps, which he adorned with botanical and religious motifs, Gallé advanced the Art Nouveau ideology and led the modern renaissance of French glass.
Gallé was the son of successful faience and furniture maker Charles Gallé but studied philosophy and botany before coming to glassmaking later in life. The young Gallé’s expertise in botany, however, would inform his design style and become his signature for generations to come.
After learning the art of glassmaking, Gallé went to work at his father’s factory in Nancy. He initially created clear glass objects but later began to experiment with layering deeply colored glass.
While glassmakers on Murano had applied layers of glass and color on decorative objects before Gallé had, he was ever-venturesome in his northeastern France, taking advantage of defects that materialized during his processes and etching in natural forms like insects such as dragonflies, marine life, the sun, vines, fruits and flowers modeled from local specimens.
Gallé is also credited with reviving cameo glass, a glassware style that originated in Rome. He used cabochons, which were applied raised-glass decorations colored with metallic oxides and made to resemble rich jeweling. Gallé's cameo glass vases and vessels were widely popular at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, cementing his position as a talented designer and pioneer.
During the late 19th century, Gallé led breakthroughs in mass production and employed hundreds of artisans in his workshop.
Botany and nature remained great sources of inspiration for the artist's glassmaking — just as they had for other Art Nouveau designers. From approximately 1890 to 1910, the movement’s talented designers produced furniture, glass and architecture in the form of — or adorned with — gently intertwining trees, flowers and vines. But Gallé had many interests, such as Eastern art and ceramics. The Japanese collection he visited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (then the South Kensington Museum) during the 1870s had made an impression too.
Breaking free from the rigid Victorian traditions, Gallé infused new life and spirit into the art and design of his time through exquisitely crafted glass vessels and pioneering new glassworking techniques.
Find a collection of Émile Gallé vases and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
$2,940 / set
Emile Galle floral plates, c. 1880, set of three
By Émile Gallé
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Extremely rare, beautiful set of three plates by Emile Galle.Faience Botanical Plates, Nancy, France, late 19th century,aesthetic movement --decorated with tulip, columbine, and paph...
Ceramic
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase
By Émile Gallé
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase in grey glass overlaid in purple and cut with pendant sweet peas; signed Galle in cameo after a star.
French Faience Plate Emile Galle Saint Clement, Circa 1900
By Émile Gallé
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience plate signed Emile Galle Saint Clement Circa 1900. Decorated with cornucopia and flowers, butterfly.
Ceramic
$400 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.06 in
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy. A set of six dinner plates in faience.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy. A set of six dinner plates in hand-painted faience. Decorated with coat of arms. 1870s/1880s. All plates have chips - one has a hairline crack. Se...
Faience
$374 / set
H 0.5 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
Set of Four Limoges Porcelain Dinner Plates, Floral Design, France, 1930
Located in Coral Gables, FL
A delicate set of four Limoges France porcelain dinner plates, decorated with soft floral sprays in shades of pink, purple, blue, and green over a luminous white porcelain ground. Each plate features a graceful scalloped rim and a light floral pattern, giving the set a romantic French table presence with an elegant, collected quality. The floral decoration is soft and airy, with small sprays placed across the porcelain rather than a heavy allover pattern. The scalloped edges add movement and delicacy, while the white porcelain body keeps the set refined and easy to mix with other pieces. They pair beautifully with silver plate, linen, crystal, floral china, white porcelain, transferware, and romantic country house table settings. Presented in vintage condition consistent with age and use, with light wear appropriate to porcelain tableware. Minor surface marks, gentle wear, or age-related variation may be present. A charming and useful set of four Limoges France dinner plates...
Porcelain
$1,200 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.06 in
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy, 15 Antique Plates in Hand-Painted Faience
Located in København, Copenhagen
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy. 15 antique plates in hand-painted faience. 1870s / 80s. Measure: Diameter: 23.5 cm. In very good condition. All plates with small peels along ...
Faience
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase
By Émile Gallé
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
6 Layer Cameo Glass Art Deco Vase; signed Galle
$4,668
H 10.24 in W 14.18 in D 0.79 in
Emile Gallé Blue Faience 1880-1890 Marine Landscape Ceramic Tiles, Set of 2
By Émile Gallé
Located in Brescia, IT
Rare pair of blue faience tiles Marine landscape painted France, 1880-1890 "E. Gallé Nancy" signed on the back Excellent condiction.
Faience
$700 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.06 in
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy, Six Antique Plates in Hand-Painted Faience
Located in København, Copenhagen
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy. Six antique plates in hand-painted faience. 1870s / 80s. Measure: Diameter: 23.5 cm. In excellent condition. Signed.
Faience
$400 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 8.67 in
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy, Five Antique Plates in Hand-Painted Faience
Located in København, Copenhagen
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy. Five antique plates in hand-painted faience. 1870s / 80s. Diameter: 22 cm. In very good condition. All plates with s...
Faience
$627 / set
H 0.5 in W 7.25 in D 7.25 in
Haviland Limoges Floral Porcelain Plates Set of Eight, France, 1888
Located in Coral Gables, FL
A delicate set of eight Haviland Limoges porcelain plates, made in France and decorated with soft pink and blue floral sprays over a luminous white porcelain ground. Each plate featu...
Porcelain
$320 / set
H 3.55 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy, France. Large square bowl and sauce boat
Located in København, Copenhagen
Emile Gallé for St. Clement, Nancy, France. Large square bowl and a sauce boat in hand-painted faience. Decorated with coat of arms. 1870s/1880s. In good condition, bowl with a long...
Faience
$320
H 6.7 in W 6.3 in D 3.94 in
Pitcher in faience with motifs of flowers and insects. Style of Emile Gallé
Located in København, Copenhagen
Pitcher in faience with motifs of flowers and insects. Style of Emile Gallé. 1870s. Marked. In good condition with small insignificant chips on the spout. See photo. Dimensions: H 17...
Faience
Emile Gallé, Orangeade Set Thistles Yellow Enameled Glass 5 Pieces
By Émile Gallé
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Orangeade set made in yellow glass with enameldesign of thistles by Emile Gallé. Signature under each piece. All pieces are in perfect condition. Service of 5 pieces including...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Emile Gallé, Two Sake Liquor Glasses with Thistles Yellow Enameled Glass
By Émile Gallé
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Set of two sake liquor glasses made in yellow glass with design of enamelled thistles. Signature under each glass. Perfect condition. Measure: height: 5cm.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Emile Gallé, Orangeade Set Chardons Yellow Enameled Glass 6 Pieces, Thistles
By Émile Gallé
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Orangeade set “Chardons” made in amber yellow glass with enamel design of thistles by Émile Gallé. Each piece is signed “E.Gallé”. All parts are in perfect condition. The carafe is gadrooned and the glasses are hammered with three points sunk on each side for the fingers. Service of 6 pieces including : - 4 orangeade tumblers 13.4 cm high - 1 decanter 24 cm high - 1 tray 30...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass