René Lalique

born Aÿ-en-Champagne, France, 1860; died Paris, France, 1945

BiographyThe designer René Lalique made his mark as a jewelry designer before becoming known as a master glassmaker. He began his training in Paris apprenticing with a prominent jeweler and attending classes at the École des Arts Décoratifs. He then went on to study in England for several years. Lalique worked first as an independent designer for major jewelry houses such as Cartier and Boucheron then in 1885 opened his own workshop in Paris. His jewelry designs were inspired by antiquity and Asian aesthetics and he broke with tradition by combining gold and gemstones with materials such as semi-precious stones, mother-of-pearl, ivory, enamel, and glass, among others.

Around 1905 Lalique began designing glass objects and also started a collaboration with the perfumier François Coty that lasted several decades. Over time he gave up his jewelry work to focus exclusively on glass. He founded a glassworks in Alsace in 1921; this Lalique factory is still in existence.

Lalique’s works are considered some of the finest examples of Art Deco glass design. He was particularly known for his contrasting uses of clear and frosted glass, sometimes adding enamel or a patina to enhance details. Later in his career he was commissioned for a series of high-profile projects to design luxurious interiors themed around glass for royalty, the wealthy, and the high fashion industry.

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