“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.
French Art Nouveau Signed Emile Gallé Cameo Glass Egg Shaped Box circa 1905
By Émile Gallé
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A rare Emile Galle signed Easter egg box and cover in red and orange over clear. The piece depicts fine leaves and berries -one of the most classic early patterns. It is in the very...
Art Glass
$420Sale Price|30% Off
H 3.25 in Dm 4 in
French Art Nouveau Enameled Glass Trinket or Jewelry Box by Legras Glassworks
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Nouveau Enameled Glass Trinket or Jewelry Box by Legras Glassworks, France A beautiful hand-crafted and richly decorated French Art Nouveau enameled glass trinket or jewelry box, attributed to Legras Glassworks. The piece features delicately applied enamel in soft, natural tones typical of the Art Nouveau movement, highlighting its elegant floral and organic motifs. Finely detailed and highly decorative, this lidded box exemplifies the refined craftsmanship for which Legras was renowned. Perfect for holding small treasures or displayed simply as a work of art. Dimensions: 4" Diameter × 3 1/4" High A wonderful collectible French Art Nouveau glass box—an ideal decorative accent or thoughtful gift. Legras Art Glass...
Glass, Art Glass
Julien VIARD Art Deco Enameled Frosted Glass Powder Compact, France, 1920
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Enameled frosted glass powder compact by Julien VIARD, 25, rue Chevalier-Dédiré, Paris, France, early 1920s. Close to the Rene Lalique works. Height : 4.3"(11cm), Diameter : 2.35"(...
Glass, Art Glass
$3,841Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.76 in Dm 6.11 in
French Art Nouveau Enameled Glass Jewelry Box, Hand-Painted, 1900s
Located in Lisbon, PT
This French Art Nouveau enameled glass jewelry box features hand-painted cherry fruits and leafy branches, capturing the romantic elegance of the early 20th century. Crafted in tra...
Brass, Enamel
$1,827
H 7.88 in Dm 5.91 in
Antique Floral Hand Painted Enameled Glass Biscuit Box, Art Nouveau, France
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Antique floral glass biscuit barrel / cookie jar with Art Nouveau Enamel Decoration, France 1890-1919 An antique biscuit jar of frosted, satin g...
Metal
$1,942
H 7.49 in Dm 5.52 in
Antique Biscuit Box, by Armand Fresnais, Art Nouveau Hand-Painted Glass, France
By Armand Fresnais
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Antique Silver-plated Biscuit Box ,By Armand Fresnais, Art Nouveau Hand-Painted Glass , France 1877-1927 A gorgeous Art Nouveau cake container/ biscuit box. Thick, hand-painted glas...
Silver Plate
1914 Gabriel Argy Rousseau - Box Capillaire Glass Pate De Verre
By Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Box “Capillaire" made in marbled, green, purple and orange glass pate de verre by Gabriel Argy-Rousseau in 1914. Molded signature. Perfect condition. Only one known in the world. ...
Blown Glass
Plique-À-Jour Enamel and Glass Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted entirely with an exceptionally detailed enamel technique known as pliqué-à-jour, this French box is a luxurious objet d'art. Exhibiting a subtle translucence like that of sta...
Enamel
Art Nouveau Moser Glass Dresser Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
An elegant and rare Art Nouveau Glass Dresser Box by Moser, Austria. Realized in the early years of 1900, with gold inlays. Very good condition.
Gold
$870
H 0.67 in Dm 1.38 in
Pill Box Round, domed in Silver Sterling Enamel on a guilloche pattern Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Giorgio Salimbeni Gold-Plated Sterling Silver and Enamel Pill Box with Miniature by Renato Buccioni, Florence, 1978 Exquisite round, domed pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver, gold...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Emile Galle Marguerites Cameo Vase
By Galle Art Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle Marguerites Cameo Vase Circa 1900 Art Nouveau Nancy, France A sublime large French art nouveau Emile Galle cameo four layer pillow vase with light blue Marguerite flower...
Art Glass
Emile Galle Blown Out Clematis Vase
By Émile Gallé
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle Mold Blown Blue Clematis Glase Vase. Circa: 1910 Nancy, France A fine Galle blown-out glass vase, Clematis pattern, in strong blue colors. Signed in cameo, Galle. Heigh...
Art Glass
Emile galle Cabochon Art Nouveau Vase
By Galle Art Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle Art Nouveau Cameo Glass Flower Vase Art Nouveau Galle cameo glass vase decorated with raised red flowers in vibrant hues, gold flake accents and a green glass cabochon at...
Art Glass
18” Emile Galle Monumental Irises Pilgrims Cameo Art Nouveau Glass Vase
By Galle Art Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Émile Gallé Monumental Cameo Irises Pilgrim Vase A rare and commanding pilgrim vase of exceptional scale, this masterpiece unfolds in four luminous layers of carved glass. Cobalt bl...
Art Glass
Daum Nancy silvered Pedestal Cameo Glass Cabinet Vase
By Daum
Located in Dallas, TX
Daum Nancy silvered Pedestal Cameo Glass Cabinet Vase Art Nouveau Nancy Daum cameo art glass cabinet vase decorated with gilt gold irises with a floral silver plated base. Layered ac...
Metal, Gold, Silver
Emile Galle water Lily Cameo Glass Vase Circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Galle Art Nouveau Cameo Glass Vase Water Lily Vase Circa 1900, France Cameo glass Height: 15.75 inches (40.0 cm) Marks: Gallé PROVENANCE: Morphy Auctions, Denver, Pennsylvan...
Art Glass
