French Art Nouveau lamps

French Art Nouveau lamps

A bit of history: Following the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, an artists’ collective known as La Société des artistes décorateurs was formed in the French capital. The renowned Art Nouveau artist Hector Guimard (1867–1942), famous for his designs for the Paris Metro entrances, was one of its founders. The artists’ aim was to draw international attention to the leading position and development of French decorative art. This was highly successful thanks to the artistic developments in Paris and Nancy. Partly due to the development of the electric light bulb, there was a great deal of interest in the production of artistic glass lamps, and there was extensive experimentation with types of glass, form and colour. In his hometown of Nancy, glass artist and furniture designer Émile Gallé founded the École de Nancy in 1901, also known as the School of Nancy. This group of artists drew inspiration from nature, using plant and floral forms and insect motifs, such as dragonflies and butterflies. Partly thanks to the activities of Émile Gallé, Nancy developed into an important centre for innovative architecture and decorative arts. The Daum Frères glassworks in Nancy, founded in 1878, also became world-famous in the field of glass craftsmanship. Jean Daum, who hailed from Alsace, was also a co-founder of the School of Nancy. By setting up his business in Lorraine, he chose a region with a long-standing tradition and recognised expertise in glassmaking. From 1890 onwards, Daum began to specialise in art objects and experimented with new techniques.

This curvilinear Art Nouveau form is clearly evident in the lamps from Art Deco Trade Coloured by Art©. Of particular interest is the etched glass, through which the motifs subtly glow when illuminated. The lamps truly serve as works of art within the interior. They are refined fixtures with a high-quality finish that lend a touch of luxury to the space.