Modern Decorative Art & Design

Works like these is what really gets me up in the morning, the start of our forthcoming sale, the Rose de France vase by Émile Gallier. The original inspiration for the vase came as a result of the Franco-Prussian peace of 1871, by which France was made to give up territory in the region of Metz. The rose present in the work is what's known as the Galicia rose, a deeply patriotic symbol for the people of France, and it was only said to be able to grow in its native soil. What is particularly fascinating is that it does not look like your typical work by Gallier. The association with Gallier's work is actually with the work produced following his death, and by his studio, the traditional and very well-known Cameo glass. Whilst the technique is present in the Rose de France, it also combines several of the techniques pioneered by Gallier, including the Sculpt d'Hiver. For many collectors, the technical complexity seen in the art class of the period, not just in Gallier, but in the work of the likes of Tiffany as well, continue to perplex and amaze collectors. The Rose de France before us today is one of four identified examples, all of which today remain in private collections. While we see works by Gallier frequently on the market, these tend to refer to the studio glass made posthumously after Gallier's death, whereas works by the master himself remain highly sought after and competed for at auction.