A cameo glass table lamp, Établissements Gallé, Nancy France 1920s.
Etched decoration of various flowers in blue and violet against a yellow-toned background, both marked Gallé in the cameo, lamp holder of brass with porcelain socket, two light points, the base label marked. Height 31 cm, diameter 28 cm.
Foot and bowl not originally associated, the bowl slightly lighter, the mounting possibly not original.
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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