Emile Galle.
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| Emile Galle |
Initially inspired by historical cameo glass, Emile Galle
went on to develop the technique with a unique blend of artistry and technical
expertise that made him the supreme master of art Nouveau cameo and the
inspiration for many French factories.
Galles rare early cameo vases are masterpieces of precision and manual dexterity.
They were produced using the same techniques that had been
used in antiquity, different coloured layers of glass were fused, and the top
layer of glass was then hand carved to make the design stand proud.
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| Emile Galle |
Galle took this basic process several steps further.
He increased the number of colours, sometimes using as many
as five.
He eliminated the sharp colours contrasts, preferring to cut
away the colours at various levels to create shading, subtle colour gradations, atmosphere, and
prospective.
Foil inclusions, fire polishing, and hammered metal effect
technique added extra texture, as did further hand carving of the design, such
as leaf vein.
From about 1899 Galle began commercial production of art
Nouveau cameo, making increasing use of acid etching.
This was employed on Galles standard, are made ranged, cameo
pieces, which were consistently high quality but lacked the creative spirit of
the pieces uniques that were made either by Galle are one of his master
craftsman.
After Galles death in 1904, production was streamlined.
The industrial cameo production included large quantities of
lamps and vases in simplified shapes and colours.
The majority had two or three players of colour, and the
decoration was stencilled on before the peace was acid etched.
Very few had any hand finishing.
Galles furniture design.
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| Emile Galle |
Galles designs for art Nouveau furniture was inspired and
influential as those he created for glass.
Both were informed by his deep love and knowledge of the
natural world, his talent for botanical drawing, and his desire to promote
naturalism in design.
He challenged traditional furniture conventions and
construction by treating would as a truly plastic medium, employing curving,
organic shapes, such as dragonfly wings, for the basic forms and supports.
Plants, animals, and insects also featured on decorated
marquetry, handles, and amounts.
In recent years, there has been an influx of reproduction
Galle cameo glass, much of which is work quality.
As a rule of thumb if you are thinking about splashing out
on one of these fine pieces of glass, I would insist on a written provenance
from the seller.
I hope you have found this article on Emile Galle both informative and
helpful, please feel free to peruse my blog for one of my many pages on glass
collecting.
Happy hunting from the collectables coach.
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