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.
Ercole Barovier, Tall Transparent murano glass vase, 1937, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Rare glass vase, 1937 Ercole Barovier Italy, circa 1937 Murano glass. - Manufactured by Ferro, Barovier & Toso, Murano, Italy. - Ercole Barovier won the Grand Prix at the 1937 I...
Glass
Anzolo Fuga Murano Glass Murrine Incatenate Vase 1960s Light Blue colour
By Anzolo Fuga
Located in Milano, IT
This important vase by Anzolo Fuga belongs to the celebrated Murrine Incatenate series, created in 1960 during his collaboration with the renowned Murano workshop A.Ve.M. (Arte Vetra...
Murano Glass
Carlo Moretti Italian Clear Murano Glass Tall Vase, Italy, circa 1960
By Carlo Moretti
Located in Milano, IT
Carlo Moretti (Italy, 1934 – 2008). Tall glass vase, circa 1960. Glass. Manufactured in Murano, Italy. 18 x 36 H cm / 7.5 x 11 H in
Glass
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso “A Stelle” Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1937
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Exceptional Murano glass vase from the celebrated “A Stelle” series, designed by Ercole Barovier and produced by Barovier & Toso in Italy, circa 1937. Executed in thick, heavy co...
Glass, Blown Glass
Yellow Murano Glass Rostrato Vase, Italy, 20th Century
Located in Milano, IT
A striking Murano glass vase in a vivid yellow hue, showcasing the iconic “Rostrato” technique with dramatic crystal-clear, hand-pulled glass decoration across the entire surface. ...
Glass
1938 Mugnoni Sculptural Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
A sculptural vase from the “Mugnoni” series designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Murano, Italy, circa 1938. This exceptional piece exemplifies Barovier’s innovative a...
Glass
Daum Nancy Art Deco Green Glass Vase with Bubble Inclusions, France 1930s
By Daum
Located in München, BY
Rare Daum Nancy green glass vase with bubble inclusions, France. Made around the 1930s. Signed by engraving with "Daum Nancy France" and the Cross of Lorraine. Exceptionally large, ...
Blown Glass
French Art Deco Glass Vase by Daum, Thick Blown Green Glass, 1930s
By Daum
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
A striking French Art Deco glass vase by Daum, crafted in Nancy, France, during the 1930s. This sculptural vintage vase is made from thick hand-blown glass in a rich green tone, with subtle internal bubbles and natural variations that give the surface exceptional depth and character. Its broad, asymmetrical silhouette reflects the refined modernism of the Art Deco period while retaining the organic quality associated with handcrafted French art glass. The substantial walls create a strong architectural presence, while the translucent green color shifts beautifully according to the surrounding light. Displayed near a window or under focused lighting, the vase reveals nuanced shades ranging from deep emerald to softer olive green. The base is signed “Daum + Nancy France,” confirming its authenticity and origin. Founded in Nancy in the late 19th century, Daum became one of France’s most celebrated glassmakers, renowned for its technical innovation, artistic experimentation, and collaborations with leading designers and artists. With its generous proportions and bold form, this Daum vase makes an impressive decorative statement on a console, sideboard, pedestal, mantel, or contemporary coffee table. It may be displayed as a standalone sculptural object or used for a restrained floral arrangement. The vase remains in very good vintage condition, with minor signs of age consistent with its period and use. An exceptional addition to a collection of Daum Nancy glass, French Art Deco decorative arts, 1930s design, or important European studio glass. Dimensions: Height: 7.5 in. (19 cm) Width: 8.7 in. (22 cm) Depth: 5.7 in. (14.5 cm) Maker: Daum Origin: Nancy, France Period: 1930s Material: Thick hand-blown and bubbled green glass...
Art Glass
Art Deco Glass Vase by Daum, Green Blown Glass, France, 1920, 19.5"
By Daum
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Deco Glass Vase by Daum, Nancy, 1920s. An elegant French Art Deco glass vase by Daum, produced in Nancy, France, during the 1920s. The vase is crafted from thick, hand-bl...
Glass
Mid-Century Light Green Glass Vase, Scandinavian Modern Design
Located in Queens, NY
Scandinarvian Mid-Century tall tapered light green and white case glass vase
Glass
Daum Nancy Art Deco Acid-Etched Vase, Green Art Glass, France, 1920
By Daum
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This refined French Art Deco glass vase by Daum Nancy, dating from the 1920s, is an elegant example of the celebrated glassmaker’s transition from the organic vocabulary of Art Nouve...
Art Glass
Rosenthal 1970's Italian Pale Green Blown Glass Olive Jar Vase
By Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
Italian pale green blown glass olive jar vase with handles and wide rim. Lovely ancient form in Mid-Century Modern design.
Blown Glass
