Crocus By Emile Gallé

Crocus, vase with glass marquetry and engraving by Emile Gallé, circa 1900.

Emile Gallé was the son of a crystal maker and took over his father's business, ensuring its prosperity. The commercial success of the firm allowed him to devote himself to countless technical researches in the manufacture of glass. His great erudition and his passion for nature are reflected in his creations which are internationally successful and make him one of the major figures of the art nouveau.
The technique of glass marquetry, patented by Emile Gallé in 1898, is a complex technique which requires a particularly sharp know-how. Pieces of glass are added to the goblet with tongs and the glass undergoes thermal variations which often lead to cracks.
The success of this process was important and many museums bought examples of these glassworks. A similar example is preserved at the MET in New York.