LALIQUE: 130 Years

Revered as the inventor of modern jewelry, René Lalique was a seminal designer whose work has been adored, studied, preserved, copied, and coveted for ages. The French artist founded his namesake company in 1888. After taking on notable jewelry commissions for aristocratic clients, he turned his gaze to glass, where he forged a new decorative frontier. Most of us know the company for its crystal and a legacy that seems infinite in its artistic reach—jewelry, fragrance, art, interior design, decorative objects, hospitality projects. If it could be captured in crystal, Lalique pursued it (his creations even embellished the railroad cars of the Orient Express and dining room of the ocean liner Normandie.) That prolific take continues, as the company has collaborations with contemporary artists like Damien Hirst. Every piece is handcrafted in the company’s only manufacturing site in the Alsace region of France. The Hirondelles Grand Vase is a good example. A clear crystal vessel featuring hand-painted gold, the piece is limited to only 130 editions, in honor of the French house’s milestone year.

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Lalique Hirondelle Vase

Courtesy Lalique