Gallé Biography
The creations of Emile Gallé 1846-1904 represent the quintessence of Art Nouveau: glass, ceramics, cabinet making. In the many techniques and subsequent ones carried out by the Etablissements after his death, there are: highly sought after glass of the period, decorations, enamel paintings, close to naturalistic and medieval themes. Next, the chiseled engravings on the wheel. The celebrated marqueterie de verre, the basis of this technique, is the hot insertion into the glassy mass of the vase, with splinters of colored glass to form floral or other decorations. The extraordinary décoration appliquée et sculptée (with the incredible "roses de France" that emanate poetry). A sumptuous distinction are the glass works of Emile Gallé, supported by bronze bases and rarely in cabinet making, or even decorated in silver. Sublime mastery: landscape scenes, fauna and flowers, themes of Islamic and orientalist inspiration, "verre parlant" (author's poems rewritten on vases), "Clair de lune" (one of the patented techniques), "Vases de segretesse" (almost an omen of death). Works that are part of the universe of the master, who designed during his lifetime, defining them: Pièce unique, Piéce maitrise, Piéce artisticique. For the years of the Etablissement (1905-1931), all production was carried out using hydrofluoric acid etching, which belongs to the so-called industrial era. But considered separately, they are the "Verre Soufflé" of the years 1925-1930, whose technique differs from the serial acid etchings of the post-"Gallé" era. It is the most beautiful technique of the posthumous period, the works blown into shape, release appreciated decorations in high relief, with the highest prices of the industrial era.
