Daum is a crystal studio based in Nancy, France, founded in 1878 by Jean Daum[1] (1825–1885). His sons, Auguste Daum (1853–1909) and Antonin Daum (1864–1931), oversaw its growth during the burgeoning Art Nouveau period. Daum is one of the only crystal manufacturers to employ the pâte de verre (glass paste) process for art glass and crystal sculptures, a technique in which crushed glass is packed into a refractory mould and then fused in a kiln.[2]

Daum vase, circa 1900

History

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Cameo glass vase by Daum Nancy

The Daum family worked at the beginning of the Art Nouveau era and created one of France's most prominent glassworks. Established at the end of the 19th century, Daum's renown was originally linked to the École de Nancy[3] and the art of pâte-de-cristal, a major contributing factor to its worldwide reputation.

During the Universal Exhibition of 1900 Daum was awarded a 'Grand Prix' medal. Daum glass became more elaborate. Acid etching (by Jacques Grüber) was often combined with carving, enamelling, and engraving on a single piece of glass to produce creative glass masterpieces. The most complicated creations also featured applied glass elements, such as handles and ornamental motifs in naturalistic forms. The Daum brothers soon became a major force in the Art Nouveau movement, seriously rivalling Émile Gallé, so much so that when Émile Gallé died in 1904 they became the leaders in the field of decorative glass.[4]

 
Daum display in Harrods London department store in 2007

In 1906 Daum revived pâte de verre (glass paste), an ancient Egyptian method of glass casting, developing the method so that by the 1930s Daum's window panels used pâte de verre for richness instead of leaded or painted glass.[5] Today Daum still uses this method to produce their pieces.

Locations

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Daum has always been linked with the city of Nancy.[6] Its main manufacturing locations are in the downtown of Nancy and a nearby village called Vannes-le-Châtel.[7] All the pieces are still handmade by hundreds of employees in the region.[8]

Daum has a store at Place Stanislas in Nancy and Park Avenue in New York City.

Museum collection

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More than 600 glasswork items are in the Daum Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy (Nancy Musée des Beaux-Arts), which documents the history of glass manufacturing.

From May to October 2010, another exhibition in Carmaux brought together pieces based on works by Georges Braque and Salvador Dalí.[9] From September 2015 to January 2016, an exhibition retracing the partnership between Salvador Dalí and the Maison Daum was held at the Espace Dali de Montmartre in Paris (Salvador Dalí).[10] This exhibition featured Dali's products created for DAUM but also those of other collaborations such as Richard Texier, Arman, César, Jérôme Mesnager,[11] Carlos Mata, Ben.[12]

Notable artists

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Since the peak of the Art Nouveau era, DAUM has worked with hundreds of artists and designers to create new collections. Among them were:

Egyptian Revival Daum Nancy Vase Appraisal

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In 2017, an example of an Art Nouveau Daum Nancy cameo glass vase, characterized by its Egyptian Revival style, was appraised on the popular television show Antiques Roadshow. This particular piece, dating back to circa 1900, was evaluated during the show's visit to Fort Worth, Texas.[citation needed]

The vase, notable for its intricate design and historical significance, was appraised by Alan Kaplan, a renowned expert in glass art. Kaplan highlighted the vase's exquisite craftsmanship and its representation of the Egyptian Revival style, which gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often inspired by archaeological discoveries of the time.[citation needed]

The appraisal valued the vase at approximately $15,000, reflecting both its artistic merit and rarity. This valuation underscores the significant historical and monetary value that such pieces hold in the world of antique collectibles.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Heritage: 1878: The origins". Daum. 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  2. ^ Frantz, Susanne K. (1989). Contemporary glass: a world survey from the Corning Museum of Glass. New York: H.N. Abrams. pp. ?. ISBN 0-8109-1038-1.
  3. ^ "Ecole de Nancy - overview". www.ecole-de-nancy.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. ^ Lacroix, Laurier (22 February 2023), "Au fil des collections au Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal", Réinventer la collection, Presses de l'Université du Québec, pp. 189–206, doi:10.2307/j.ctv37wpr8d.17, ISBN 978-2-7605-5738-3, retrieved 13 June 2023
  5. ^ Fyson, Nance (2001). Decorative Glass of the 19th and Early 20th Century: A Source Book. Newton Abbot, UK: David & Charles. p. 140. ISBN 0-7153-1258-8.
  6. ^ "Daum | Nancy Tourisme". en.nancy-tourisme.fr. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Compagnie des verriers - Vannes le Châtel". www.lacompagniedesverriers.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  8. ^ Lynn Lewis (22 July 2011), Daum: Luxury French Crystal, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 4 January 2017
  9. ^ Braque et Dalí, Daum à Carmaux en 2010
  10. ^ "Daum, variations d'artistes". Espace Dalí à Montmartre. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  11. ^ Vanessa Pariente (31 March 2016). "Jerome Mesnager by Daum". YouTube. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Daum s'expose chez Dali". estrepublicain.fr. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Arman". daum.fr. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  14. ^ Slesin, Suzanne (15 June 1989). "A Designer's Whimsical Essays in 'Tex-Baroque'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  15. ^ "STARCK Official Website - Enter Philippe Starck's universe | Starck".
  16. ^ "Daum, variations d'artistes". Espace Dalí à Montmartre. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Crystal Meets Graffiti in Daum's New Collaboration with Kongo | BLOUIN ARTINFO". Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Hors série : Daum inédit : la collection Richard Texier - Connaissance des Arts". connaissancedesarts.com. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  19. ^ "EMILIO ROBBA - Collection - Home Decor - Daum Crystal". emiliorobba.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  20. ^ "DAUM EDITEURS et PHILIPPE DRUILLET, dessinateur Suite de deux vases modèle "Salammbô" version nui". the-saleroom.com. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Henri Bergé". lartnouveau.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  22. ^ Kaplan, Alan (2017). "Appraisal: Daum Nancy Cameo Glass Vase, ca. 1900". Antiques Roadshow Season 21 Episode 1. PBS. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
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