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 water pitcher, Art Nouveau period, Nancy manufacture, circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Paris, FR
This emerald green-tinted blown glass water pitcher showcases the exceptional artistry of the Daum manufactory in Nancy, circa 1900. The subtly fluted body adds a sense of movement a...
Crystal
Daum water glass, Art Nouveau period, Nancy manufacture, circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Paris, FR
This emerald green-tinted blown glass wine glass exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of the Daum manufactory in Nancy around 1900. Its ribbed design lends a subtly animated texture, while delicate gold highlights - applied using the combed decoration technique - gracefully accent the rim and base. This model closely resembles the renowned Gui glassware service designed by Edmond Lachenal (1855 - c.1955), an esteemed ceramicist and painter. For this commission, Lachenal collaborated with the Daum glassworks and the Keller & Guérin manufactory in Lunéville for the faience components. This iconic Art Nouveau service is now housed in the Musée d’Orsay, following a donation by dealer Rispal in 2005. For collectors or hosts seeking a complete set, we also offer matching pieces: champagne coupes...
Crystal
French Ewer wine service, cut Crystal handle ornate chiseled solid silver 19th
By Henri Soufflot 1
Located in Paris, FR
19th-century French twisted and hand-engraved crystal ewer with sterling silver mount. The handle is beautifully adorned with stylized acanthus leaves, while the upper part of the mo...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Daum champagne glass, Art Nouveau period, Nancy manufacture, circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Paris, FR
This emerald green-tinted blown glass wine glass exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of the Daum manufactory in Nancy around 1900. Its ribbed design lends a subtly animated texture, while delicate gold highlights - applied using the combed decoration technique - gracefully accent the rim and base. This model closely resembles the renowned Gui glassware service designed by Edmond Lachenal (1855 - c.1955), an esteemed ceramicist and painter. For this commission, Lachenal collaborated with the Daum glassworks and the Keller & Guérin manufactory in Lunéville for the faience components. This iconic Art Nouveau service is now housed in the Musée d’Orsay, following a donation by dealer Rispal in 2005. For collectors or hosts seeking a complete set, we also offer matching pieces: champagne glass...
Crystal
Daum red wine glass, Art Nouveau period, Nancy manufacture, circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Paris, FR
This emerald green-tinted blown glass wine glass exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of the Daum manufactory in Nancy around 1900. Its ribbed design lends a subtly animated texture, while delicate gold highlights - applied using the combed decoration technique - gracefully accent the rim and base. This model closely resembles the renowned Gui glassware service designed by Edmond Lachenal (1855 - c.1955), an esteemed ceramicist and painter. For this commission, Lachenal collaborated with the Daum glassworks and the Keller & Guérin manufactory in Lunéville for the faience components. This iconic Art Nouveau service is now housed in the Musée d’Orsay, following a donation by dealer Rispal in 2005. For collectors or hosts seeking a complete set, we also offer matching pieces: champagne coupes...
Crystal
Daum white wine glass, Art Nouveau period, Nancy manufacture, circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Paris, FR
This emerald green-tinted blown glass wine glass exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of the Daum manufactory in Nancy around 1900. Its ribbed design lends a subtly animated texture, while delicate gold highlights - applied using the combed decoration technique - gracefully accent the rim and base. This model closely resembles the renowned Gui glassware service designed by Edmond Lachenal (1855 - c.1955), an esteemed ceramicist and painter. For this commission, Lachenal collaborated with the Daum glassworks and the Keller & Guérin manufactory in Lunéville for the faience components. This iconic Art Nouveau service is now housed in the Musée d’Orsay, following a donation by dealer Rispal in 2005. For collectors or hosts seeking a complete set, we also offer matching pieces: champagne coupes...
Crystal
Art Nouveau Daum Nancy Acid Cut Bronze Mounted Bottle Circa 1900
By Daum
Located in Rochester, NY
Daum Nancy art nouveau bottle. Bronze mounted acid cut with gilding. Circa 1900.
Bronze
Fantastic quality antique Victorian glass ewer
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fantastic quality antique Victorian glass ewer having a fantastic quality antique Victorian cut glass ewer with a shaped handle to the back, the orig...
Glass
Antique Edwardian Quality Glass Decanter
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Edwardian quality glass decanter, having a quality shaped glass decanter with a shaped handle and original glass stopper.
Glass
Stunning quality antique Victorian glass decanter
Located in Ipswich, GB
Stunning quality antique Victorian glass decanter having a fantastic quality antique Victorian glass decanter with a wavy top, a shaped handle ...
Glass
Daum France, Rose Carafe, France 1980
By Daum
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb Daum France decanter with its beautiful stopper in glass paste in the shape of a rose. Signed Daum France, carafe engraved with the letters BR. In excellent condition. Dimen...
Crystal
Victorian Decanter by Black, Starr & Frost, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
American Victorian decanter with silver deposit scroll design with handle and (inside spout & stopper has small chip in glass), hallmarks on handl...
Silver
