Galle |
Emile Galle was and is the dominant figure in French cameo art glass and was perhaps the most outstanding person working in designer glass in the Art Nouveau period. He was student and teacher, worker and director, craftsman and artist. He demonstrated fine skills as botanist, chemist, author, and businessman in addition to those shown in his work with ceramics, furniture, and art glass. A man of considerable energy and drive, he researched his problems well and experimented thoroughly. Galle was an innovator. He developed a number of new techniques in designer glass production and decoration, and improved on a number of others. He we was signed «Galle» or «GR» for Galle and Reinemer, his wife's family name, and stenciled with the name «Saint–Clement.» Exposure to his father's work undoubtedly stimulated Emile's interest along these lines. As a young man, Emile Galle attended schools at Nancy and spent much of his spare time in reading and study. He developed a considerable interest in nature, which was a continued inspiration to him. One of his recreations was a walk in the Lorraine countryside, which afforded opportunity for study of the flora and fauna of the area. Plants and insects native to that area served as subjects for decoration of much of his works in later yeas. In 1865 Emile Galle left Nancy and went to study at the art school in Weimar. He then studied glass making at Meisenthal and ceramic work at Saint–Clement, where at both places he had the advantage of his father's guidance.
In 1870 his studies were interrupted by a period of service in the French army for approximately one year during the
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| Image. Vase with crackle glass effect, extremely heavy. Signed «E. Rousseau Paris». |
Galle exhibited in Paris in 1878 with his «Clair de Lune» glass of pale blue colouring his
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| Image. Engraved scent bottle. Signed on the side with an engraved and stylized signature «Galle» |
It was at this 1889 Paris exposition that he introduced his multilayered designer glass with surface cutting. His cameo art glass was widely acclaimed, and this technique was soon thereafter to be used by other custom glass manufacturers. Galle continued to make this type of glass throughout the remainder of his life, and it is this type art glass for which he is best known. Glass inspired by and having quotations from poetry were named «verriere paralante». Scenic pieces, which were first made in the 1890's, he referred to as «paysages de Verre». Other variations in his glass include the incorporation of metallic foils between layers of glass, application of glass to the surface in the form of cabochons, padding or marquetry, combination of streaks and «clouds» of glass within a layer, and decoration with enamels and gold gilt. Because of the complexity of manufacturer, variations in designer glass coloring, and perhaps some attempt to avoid duplications, it is most unusual to find identical pieces of cameo produced by Galle. He may well have admired and been influenced by the enamel work of Joseph Brocard and the fine quality work in glass of Eugene Rousseau; however, he developed a style which is clearly his own. Galle exhibited in Paris in 1878 with his «Clair de Lune» glass of pale blue coloring his best–received product. In 1884 he exhibited a variety of decorative glass in Paris.
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| Image. Vase with large floral design. Signed Galle. |
Between 1884 and 1889 was a relatively dormant period for Galle as far as glass output was concerned. This was apparently a time of study, research, and development. Some engravers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries initialled some of their finest works, and a few glass firms put marks on their wares. Galle, however, was the first to put his name on every piece made by him or produced at his factory. Galle apparently enjoyed having his name signed, and he signed the glass in a variety of ways. Before Galle popularized the signing of glass, it was a rarity to find signatures in glass. After Galle's success, many glassmakers started signing their products. During the late 1890's there was increasing demand for Galle's glass, and in 1900 he had about three hundred employees with outlets for his glass in Nancy, Paris, and several major cities in Europe. At the 1900 International Exhibition in Paris, Galle had an outstanding exhibit with many fine pieces of glass and with a working glass furnace in the centre of the display He was highly acclaimed, and this experience was probably the high point of his career. Galle was honored as the head of the Ecole de Nancy (School of Nancy). Membership in this «school» consisted of a number of men who had achieved prominence in their particular fields, including: Hesteaux, a potter; the Daum brothers, manufacturers of fine glass; Victor Prouve, a painter and artist in other media; Majorelle, the outstanding furniture maker; and others. Galle continued to produce some glass of masterpiece quality into the final year of his life. In September 1904 at the age of 58, Emile Galle died. The Galle glassworks continued in operation at Nancy until 1914 with Emile Lang as manager and Victor Prouve, Galle
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| Image. Emile Galle, lampe Les Coprins, 1902. |
After 1904, the factory lacked the inventive genius of Galle and products were those utilizing established techniques, mostly acid cut glass on frosted backgrounds. Between 1904 and 1914 a star often preceded the signature of Galle. During this time, however, there were pieces known to bear the name Galle without the star. The star in the signature was apparently not used in the production after 1914.
The quality of the art glass produced by the Galle factory after his death, gradually deteriorated and by the time the factory closed, the reputation of Galle glass suffered considerably. Had production stopped at the GaI16 factory with Emile Galle's death, or had the name Galle been dropped from the product at that time, the reputation of Emile Galle would undoubtedly not have suffered so greatly. This dedicated and talented man has left to those who followed an increased knowledge in the use of glass as an art form.
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| Image. Emile Galle, coupe Rose de France, 1901. |
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