A set of two Art Nouveau cameo glass vases, Nancy, France.
Decorated with mahonia berries and leaves. One of the vases with decoration in violet against a matte blue background, signed Gallé. Height 37 cm. The other with decoration in yellow-brown against a matte yellow-white background, signed Gallé. Height 37 cm.
From the collection of art collector and entrepreneur Kent Löwenberg.
Emile Gallé was a French designer born in Nancy, primarily known as a glass artist, though he also worked with ceramics and Art Nouveau furniture. After a solid, traditional academic education, Gallé spent some time in Germany working with the firm Schwerer & Co. Gallé's earliest glass pieces were enamel painted; he later developed the technique "Marqueterie sur Verre" which involved embedding metal and glass details into the object, a complex technique used by few other artists. However, his largest production was of polished and etched cameo glass featuring biologically accurate floral decorations. The production continued after Gallé's death, and items were then signed with a star added to the signature.
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