René Lalique. Enchanted by glass

René Lalique, a master artist and designer of early 20th-century France, initially achieved fame for his jewelry creations that were widely admired and collected. He began experimenting with glass in the 1890s, and was so captivated by the material that he spent the rest of his career working with it exclusively. The glass objects that he designed, such as vases, ashtrays, tableware, and other household accessories, are now considered iconic representations of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements.

This publication traces Lalique’s distinguished career, including his early experimentation with glass in jewelry-making; his production of innovative perfume bottles, some of the first pieces he made entirely of glass; and the peak of his glassmaking career at the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris. Hundreds of color photographs—including many dramatic, full-page images—spotlight individual pieces of glass and original wax and plaster models selected from the extensive collection of The Corning Museum of Glass. The book also draws on the Museum’s wealth of archival material on Lalique, including design drawings and photographs. This strikingly beautiful and informative volume is a testament to the singular allure of his enchanting glass.