René Lalique Giverny Vase 28.5cm - Signed Crystal Glass Art Deco Floral

The Elegant and Timeless 'Giverny' Vase by René Lalique

A magnificent and museum-quality 'Giverny' vase by René Lalique (1860-1945), the most celebrated glass artist of the Art Deco period. Standing 28.5 cm tall, this exceptional piece showcases Lalique's mastery of crystal glass, featuring a classic baluster form with circumferential floral decoration in relief. Executed in colorless crystal glass with partial satin finish and polished surfaces, and signed 'Lalique R France' engraved on the bottom, this vase represents French Art Deco glass art at its finest. The 'Giverny' design, named after Claude Monet's famous garden village, embodies the timeless elegance and naturalistic beauty that made Lalique's work legendary.

René Lalique - Master of Art Deco Glass

René Lalique (1860-1945) stands as one of the most important figures in 20th-century decorative arts. Beginning his career as a revolutionary Art Nouveau jeweler, Lalique transitioned to glassmaking around 1910 and created an entirely new aesthetic vocabulary for the Art Deco period. His vases, sculptures, perfume bottles, and architectural elements combined technical innovation, artistic vision, and commercial success in unprecedented ways. Lalique's work is represented in every major decorative arts museum worldwide, and his pieces command premium prices at international auctions. The 'Giverny' vase represents one of his most successful and enduring designs.

The 'Giverny' Design - Homage to Monet

The 'Giverny' vase takes its name from the village where Claude Monet created his famous gardens and water lily paintings. This connection to Impressionism and French cultural heritage adds poetic resonance to the design. The circumferential floral decoration in relief captures the abundance and natural beauty of Monet's gardens, translating botanical forms into the geometric clarity and stylized elegance characteristic of Art Deco aesthetics. This synthesis of naturalism and stylization demonstrates Lalique's genius for creating designs that are simultaneously timeless and distinctly of their era.

Classic Baluster Form

The vase's baluster shape - swelling body tapering to narrow base and neck - represents one of the most elegant and enduring forms in ceramic and glass history. Lalique's interpretation of this classical form demonstrates his sophisticated understanding of proportion, balance, and visual harmony. The baluster shape provides perfect canvas for the circumferential floral decoration while creating graceful silhouette that works beautifully in any setting. This combination of classical form and Art Deco decoration exemplifies Lalique's ability to honor tradition while creating distinctly modern objects.

Circumferential Floral Decoration in Relief

The vase features floral motifs arranged in continuous band around the body, executed in relief that creates three-dimensional texture and visual interest. The relief decoration, achieved through molding during the glass-forming process, creates interplay of light and shadow that changes as viewing angle and lighting conditions change. The floral elements are stylized in characteristic Art Deco manner - recognizable as flowers while transformed into decorative pattern through simplification and geometric organization. This relief work demonstrates Lalique's complete mastery of glass molding techniques and his understanding of how three-dimensional surface treatment enhances overall design.

Colorless Crystal Glass - Material Excellence

Executed in colorless crystal glass, this vase demonstrates Lalique's mastery of this demanding material. Crystal glass, with its exceptional clarity, brilliance, and light-refracting properties, requires complete technical control to work successfully. The colorless crystal allows the form and relief decoration to be primary focus, with light playing across surfaces to reveal contours, textures, and details. Lalique's choice of crystal for the 'Giverny' design emphasizes the vase's elegant form and delicate floral decoration while showcasing the material's inherent beauty.

Partial Satin Finish and Polished Surfaces

The vase features both satin (frosted) and polished surfaces, creating sophisticated interplay of textures and light effects. The satin finish, achieved through acid etching or sandblasting, creates soft, matte surfaces that diffuse light and provide tactile interest. Polished areas create brilliant highlights and sharp reflections. This combination of finishes - characteristic of Lalique's finest work - adds visual complexity and demonstrates complete mastery of glass surface treatments. The contrast between satin and polished areas enhances the relief decoration and creates constantly changing visual effects as lighting and viewing angles change.

Signed 'Lalique R France' - Authentication

The vase bears Lalique's signature 'Lalique R France' engraved on the bottom, confirming its authenticity and provenance. This signature format, used during René Lalique's lifetime and continuing after his death in 1945, provides clear authentication. The 'R' indicates René Lalique, distinguishing pieces from his era from later production. Signed Lalique pieces command significant premiums over unsigned examples, and the signature's presence is essential for serious collectors and investment purposes.

Dimensions and Presence

At 28.5 cm height (approximately 11.2 inches), this vase offers substantial presence while remaining suitable for various display settings. The size is perfect for showcasing flowers or standing alone as pure sculptural object. The proportions create elegant vertical emphasis while the baluster form provides visual stability. This size represents the sweet spot in Lalique vase collecting - substantial enough to command attention, manageable enough for diverse display options.

Condition - Excellent

The vase remains in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs - remarkable for Art Deco glass that may be 80-100 years old. The satin and polished surfaces retain their original character, the relief decoration is crisp and intact, the signature is clear, and the overall integrity is superb. This exceptional preservation dramatically enhances both aesthetic appeal and investment value, as condition is paramount in Lalique collecting.

Timeless Elegance

The 'Giverny' vase exemplifies timeless design - equally at home in period Art Deco interiors or contemporary settings. The classical baluster form, refined floral decoration, and neutral colorless crystal create versatility that transcends changing fashions. This timelessness explains why certain Lalique designs, including 'Giverny,' remain perennially popular among collectors and decorators. The vase works beautifully empty as pure sculpture or filled with flowers as functional object.

Investment Value and Market Position

Signed Lalique vases in classic designs with excellent condition represent sound investments in the Art Deco glass market. René Lalique's market has shown consistent strength for decades, with pieces regularly achieving strong prices at international auctions. The 'Giverny' vase's combination of popular design, substantial size, signed authentication, excellent condition, and museum-quality execution positions it as an attractive acquisition. As Lalique pieces become scarcer and appreciation for Art Deco glass grows, values continue to appreciate.

Collecting Context

This vase appeals to collectors of René Lalique, Art Deco glass, French decorative arts, and those seeking elegant functional objects that are also fine art. It would enhance private collections, corporate holdings, or serve as an introduction to Lalique collecting. The museum quality, timeless design, and investment value make it suitable for collections at various levels. The 'Giverny' design's popularity and recognition add to its desirability.

Display and Use

The 'Giverny' vase's versatility allows multiple display options. It works beautifully as pure sculptural object on pedestals or shelves, in illuminated vitrines where lighting reveals surface subtleties, or as functional vase for fresh or dried flowers. The colorless crystal and elegant form complement any décor style. Proper lighting - both natural and artificial - reveals the interplay between satin and polished surfaces and the three-dimensional relief decoration. Consider placement where the vase can be appreciated from multiple angles.

Available for viewing by appointment at Artemisia Fine Arts & Antiques Ltd, Malta's premier gallery for French Art Deco glass. We provide comprehensive authentication documentation, condition reports, provenance research, insurance valuation, and expert consultation. International shipping arranged with specialized glass handlers and full insurance coverage. Serious inquiries from qualified collectors welcome.