Jewels, perfume bottles, table services, interior glass finishes for luxury trains, decorations for the fountains on the Champs-Elysées… René Lalique transformed glass – ‘the wonderful material’ – in a completely innovative way.
In this series of seven episodes, curator Luísa Sampaio presents the themes that characterise the long and illustrious career of this leading jeweller and master glassmaker of the Art Nouveau and Art Déco movements. Discover the most expensive work acquired by Calouste Gulbenkian and the special commission for King Edward VIII, among other curiosities.
Guided tourIn just five minutes, take a guided tour of the exhibition René Lalique and the Age of Glass with curator Luísa Sampaio.
1. The creator of the modern jewelRené Lalique revolutionised the concept of jewellery, introducing glass as a material of creation.
2. Lost wax castingUnique pieces made from glass, in which Lalique’s favourite themes are represented: fauna and flora.
3. ‘Glass, the wonderful material’Seduced by the versatility of industrial production, Lalique brought art to both everyday objects and large-scale architectural interventions.
4. Modern perfumeWorking with great perfumers of his time such as François Coty and Lucian Lelongue, Lalique applied his art to the design of glass perfume bottles.
5. Travels and symbols of modernityRené Lalique was a man of his times and his works are associated with the symbols of modernity of the 1930s: the automobile, the train and the transatlantic crossing.
6. Lalique and Classical inspirationClassical Antiquity was a recurring theme in Lalique’s work, both in the creation of jewels and in his industrial production.
7. Lalique and JapanLike many of his contemporaries, Lalique was inspired by the naturalist spirit of Japanese art.
