Rene Lalique and The Lost Wax
(No it is not an Indiana Jones Saga)
The Early Lalique pieces were produced with the Lost Wax Method.
This consists of carving a sculpture or other intricate piece in wax. A Mould is made around the wax sculpture using Plaster of Paris.
This consists of carving a sculpture or other intricate piece in wax. A Mould is made around the wax sculpture using Plaster of Paris.
This is left to set and then heated.
The Molten wax is poured out and molten Glass is poured into the mould.
The glass cooled down and the mould was removed carefully.
The Molten wax is poured out and molten Glass is poured into the mould.
The glass cooled down and the mould was removed carefully.
This was the main method of production until 1905.
It is these very early pieces that are most collectible (and valuable) since very few pieces are identical.
However, the Lost Wax (Cire Perdue in French ) method is time consumng and not really suitable for mass production of glass.
Accordingly, Lalique opened a production line at Combs-la-Ville in 1909.
Accordingly, Lalique opened a production line at Combs-la-Ville in 1909.
At this time the Lalique Factory was producing a wide variety of objects including the well known Perfume Bottles,Vases,Motor Mascots ,Decorative Boxes and Book-Ends.
By 1930 Rene Lalique was famed as the premier designer in Glass and was making Vases with nudes or dancers,Dragonflies, fishes and leaves.
Nature subjects were very popular and his Crystal bowls and Vases with acid-etched reliefs sold well.