Daum (House)

Historical

Daum is not "born" art industry, it has become. When Jean Daum, a former notary of Bitche forced into exile in the wake of the War of 1870, bought the Glassworks of Nancy in 1878, it is an industrial glass factory that produces mainly flacons, glassware and bobesches. It becomes an art factory, both by opportunity and necessity, under the impulse of one of the sons, Antonin Necessity, because family business undergoes a serious crisis and it becomes indispensable, in order to get out of business, to renew part of the production. Opportunity, because Antonin helped his brother Auguste, perfectly capture the air of time, the renewal of the decorative arts in general and the success of Émile Gallé in particular

In 1891, Antonin opened a department of Art: the first vases adorned with finely chiseled colored flowers appeared, prefiguring what the "Art Nouveau style" would be. At first shy and confidential, artistic production gained momentum with the arrival of Jacques Gruber and the first exhibitions After the services of the table, it is towards the production of more elaborate models that the glassware turns. The techniques are placed in tune with the decorations. To the painting with the enamel, the etching with the acid, and gold highlights. The multi-layered and the chiseling of the pieces to the wheel Jacques Gruber leaves the factory around 1897, after having signed some pieces of great value he is replaced, at the head of the workshop decor, by Henri Bergé, himself assisted In 1910 by Émile Wirtz.

With the first successes of decorated glasses, the production of the manufacture becomes more complex. We can schematically divide it into three categories. On the one hand, an industrial manufacture, inherited from the beginning of the company: glass balls intended for industry of watch and the ordinary cups. On the other hand, a common fancy production, utility or not, which includes all the series of decorated models manufactured in large quantities, sold by the various stores and retailers. There are vases and similar objects. Table services and lighting equipment Finally, "off-the-shelf" parts, usually single models (or a limited number of copies) which ensure the reputation of the manufacture, in terms of volume and number of workers employed.

The Paris World Exposition in 1900, which closes a century and opens a new one, comes at the right time for the Daum Manufacture. From 1893 to 1900, it became known through its participation in the exhibitions in Chicago, Nancy, Brussels , Lyon, Bordeaux. The first articles published in the press and in specialized magazines, the sales of some of its finest pieces, the prizes gleaned enable it to become an industry of art and Begin to free themselves little by little from the invasive tutelage. The Universal Exhibition of 1900 must devote the glassware

In 1920, under the impulse of Paul Daum, a totally new aesthetic was born, which proclaimed the Art Deco style. Glass then assumed a mineral aspect, it was frosted, crystallized. Around 1930, Michel Daum, son of Antonin met. To the point of making the crystal, this material made of glass to which is added 24% of lead In 1968, it is the rediscovery of the glass paste, unique material. Thus Daum publishes each year sculptures in limited edition, which can be found on the different markets of Art

Daum and Art Nouveau

The workshops of the Daum brothers have formed some of the great names of Art Nouveau, including the painter Jacques Grüber, Almaric Walter, Henri Bergé and Eugène Gall

From 1891, Antonin Daum, head of the Department of Art, developed the techniques of acid etching, engraving and two- or three-layered glasses. Between 1890 and 1914, he created not less than three thousand references

He also participated in the artistic movement of the Ecole de Nancy created under the impulse of Émile Gallé and became vice-president. His work was rewarded at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1900, where the Grand Prix Been awarded

Technical

Glass paste is a rare and ancient technique of glass that dates back to 5000 BC

This technique was rediscovered by Daum in 1900 and then reworked in 1968. The glass paste is actually a crystal paste containing nearly 30% of lead.

To make a piece of glass paste, the sculptor models in clay the first model. In this second model, a negative mold is produced which will be the hollow mold of the original form. A hot wax in this mold and you get the original wax sculpture. This wax piece is embedded in refractory plaster, the whole is placed in an oven, the wax will melt and drain from the plaster. The hollow plaster part is then filled with pieces. Crushed crystal of different colors and sizes, mix called groisil.Then the whole is placed in an oven for 10 days, the temperature rises progressively up to 1000 °. The groisil melts and takes its place. Once the mold in plaster broken, the sculpture In glass paste is revealed.

Another ten operations and the piece is ready to receive the final signature.

Today Daum is the only crystal glass in the world to be able to create this exceptional material.