For collectors, Daum is a name in the first rank of the French makers of art glass, along with those of Émile Gallé and René Lalique. Led in its early decades by the brothers Auguste (1853–1909) and Antonin Daum (1864–1931), the company, based in the city of Nancy, established its reputation in the Art Nouveau period, and later successfully adopted the Art Deco style.
In 1878, lawyer Jean Daum took over the ownership of a glassworks as payment for a debt and installed his sons as proprietors. Initially, Daum made glass for everyday purposes such as windows, watches and tableware, but the success that Gallé enjoyed at the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris — the international showcase for which the Eiffel Tower was built — inspired the Daum brothers to begin making art-glass pieces. They produced popular works of cameo glass, a decorative technique in which an outer layer of glass is acid-etched or carved off to reveal the layer below, but Daum became best known for vessels and sculptures in pâte de verre — a painstaking method in which finely ground colored glass is mixed with a binder, placed in a mold and then fired in a kiln.
Though early Daum glass was never signed by individual artists, the firm employed some of the masters of the naturalistic, asymmetrical Art Nouveau style, including Jacques Grüber, Henri Bergé and Amalric Walter (whose first name is frequently misspelled). Daum also collaborated with furniture and metalware designer Louis Majorelle, who created wrought-iron and brass mounts for vases and table lamps. In the 1960s, Daum commissioned fine artists, most notably Salvador Dalí and sculptor César Baldaccini, to design glass pieces. As you see from the works offered on 1stDibs, Daum has been home to an astonishingly rich roster of creative spirits and is today a state-owned enterprise making pâte de verre figurines.
Daum Nancy "Avoine et abeilles" Vase
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
This French Art Nouveau Glass Vase by Daum features ruby-toned handles and bees buzzing amongst the variously colored foliage featured on the vessel. The vase utilizes the famous Dau...
Enamel
Great Daum Nancy Vase Art nouveau
By Daum
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Daum Nancy vase Digitalis, Circa 1915 Perfect condition Size: 54 cm Monumental. Glassware marked Daum Nancy is attributed to Auguste and Antonin Daum. These brothers took over a gl...
Art Glass
Daum Nancy "Ombelle" Cameo Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
This cameo glass "Ombelle" vase by French Art Nouveau masters, Daum Nancy, features a rounded body of smooth, light candy pink glass decorated by two delicate umbel blooms in green c...
Art Glass
Daum Nancy Enameled and Etched Orchid Landscape Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
This French Art Nouveau enameled and etched glass vase by Daum Nancy is a bright scene is dominated by two planes of mottled glass, golden yellow on top of deep purple, which togethe...
Glass
Daum Cameo Glass Large Lily Flower Vase
By Daum
Located in Sarasota, FL
Daum cameo glass lily flower impressive vase. Very fine finish Signed in cameo. Good polished pontil.
Art Glass
Daum Nancy Enameled and Etched Orchid Landscape Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
This French Art Nouveau enameled and etched glass vase by Daum Nancy is a bright scene is dominated by two planes of mottled glass, golden yellow on top of deep purple, which togethe...
Art Glass
Daum Nancy Vase Art Nouveau
By Daum
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art Nouveau style Origin: France Decorated with green leaves and orange fruits (enameled) Excellent condition (Some natural wear from use) Cameo glass with enamel Circa 1900 Signed b...
Enamel
Daum Art Nouveau Cameo Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in Sarasota, FL
Daum Art Nouveau cameo glass vase. Acid etched work. Hand blown glass with polished pontil.
Art Glass
Daum Nancy "Nénuphars" Cameo Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
The highly complex composition in this "Nénuphars," or "Water Lilies," cameo glass vase, by Daum Nancy, features the titular flower in various stages of bloom, as well as in various ...
Art Glass
Daum Nancy Important Vase Art Nouveau "Aux Pavots"
By Daum
Located in NANCY, FR
Spectaculaire vase balustre sur piédouche à base renflée et col arrondi en verre triple. Magnifique décor gravé en camée à l’acide et repris à la roue de fleurs de pavots et de feui...
pate de verre
