newsletter 103 A5 :newsletter
25/3/09
09:26
Page 12
L for Lalique
Lalique As a child Rene Claude Lalique (born in 1860) showed an interest in all aspects of art and sculpture. In 1876 he began an apprenticeship with the famous jeweller Louis Aucoc in Paris. He attended the College of Decorative Arts at the same time and won an award for drawing. In 1880 he was employed as an illustrator of jewellery, creating designs for some of the foremost perfume houses in Paris. Four years later Lalique’s drawings were accepted for display at the National Exhibition of Industrial Arts at The Louvre. When he was 25 he set up his first workshop in the Place Gallion in Paris, later adding on another workshop where he designed jewellery using semi precious stones with ivory and later crystal glass along with coloured enamels. In 1889 at a display at The Paris Universal Exhibition the jewellery firms of Boucheron, Cartier and Vever, among others, included collaborative works by him in their displays. Lalique opened his first retail shop in 1905 and in 1907 Vincenzo Florio commissioned him to design the award trophies for the famous Targa Florio endurance races. During the beginning of the First World War Lalique closed his factory, but post-war he built a new factory in the Alsace region and was producing crystal glass from 1921. It continues there today. Lalique is still known for producing an extensive range of jewellery, watches, cut glass and moulded crystal for famous department stores around the world, as well as ocean liners including the incredible Art Deco interior of the SS Normandie. Car Mascots/Hood Ornaments Car mascots were of great demand by the rich and famous of the inter war era. These adorned the hoods and radiator caps of the most prestigious marques from all over the
12