Lalique

Before it became an internationally recognized brand name, it was the name of an artist of genius. Born in 1860 in Aÿ-en-Champagne in the Marne region of France, René-Jules Lalique started his journey when he became an apprentice to craftsman and jeweler Louis Aucoc. It was during this time that he attended classes at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and then left for England where he continued his studies for two more years. After gaining recognition as an independent designer in 1885, René Lalique took over the workshop of jeweler Jules Destape on Place Gaillon in Paris.

In 1887, Lalique set up business on Rue du Quatre-Septembre and a year later he designed his first parures in finely-wrought gold inspired by Antiquity and Japonism. He broke jewelry-making tradition by including innovative materials in his pieces. The materials he used were central to his designs. They were chosen for their power, light, and color, whether they were precious or not. He combined gold and gemstones with semi-precious stones, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and horn, in addition to enamel and glass. In 1888, René Lalique registered his RL stamp and started to engrave his pieces with these letters. His work started to gain widespread popularity.

In 1890, now with his third workshop opened, Lalique started to experiment and design using glass dates from this era. Over the next ten years, he forged his reputation, won competitions, exhibited his work, and created pieces for well-known entertainers such as actress Sarah Bernhardt. His work was commissioned by the great courts and collected by some of the world’s most wealthy families. When he took part in the 1900 Great Exhibition in Paris, it was a crowning moment for his career, and he would go on to be named Officer of the French Legion d'Honneur.

In 1907, Lalique entered the perfume sector and devoted himself to industrial techniques of glass production. The master jeweler was to become an Art Deco master glassmaker. He founded the Verrerie d’Alsace glassworks at Wingen-sur-Moder in Alsace and today this is the world’s only Lalique factory. By 1935, René Lalique was commissioned for a series of high-profile projects that included decorating Madeleine Vionnet’s haute couture salons, designing glass doors for Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, and creating the fountain which for a time decorated the Galerie des Champs-Elysées in Paris. This was also the year René Lalique opened the Lalique shop at 11 Rue Royale in Paris. In 1945, René Lalique passed away and his son Marc took over the business. It was Marc who would bring Lalique into the age of crystal. The company transitioned from producing its famous Lalique Glass to producing lead glass, commonly known as crystal.

Today, in addition to crystal glassworks, Lalique has expanded into fragrances, furniture, home accessories, household linens, light fixtures, works of art, museums, and five-star hotels. It was a collaboration between the famous crystal glassworks and internationally acclaimed designer Lady Tina Green and opened its doors to the Lalique museum which houses over 650 pieces by René Lalique and his successors. Lalique continues to be a symbol of luxury and artisan.