DAUM (MANUFACTURE)

Daum is an historic French art glass manufacturer founded in Nancy in 1878. It was destined to become one of the highest quality producers of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glass, and is still active today producing contemporary crystal.

Initially founded to produce industrial glass by Jean Daum, the manufacture changed its approach when his sons,  Auguste and Antonin Daum, started work there.  They adapted production towards art glass and introduced the lively cultural atmosphere of the École de Nancy, Daum became one of the protagonists of French Art Nouveau, distinguishing itself for shapes inspired by nature, floral motifs and technical research of the highest quality.

The manufacture is famous for its refined handling of cameo glass, obtained using acid incision or wheel engraving through several superimposed layers of glass, and also for experiments on patinas, inclusion techniques and the use of rich colours. These techniques allowed Daum to create vases, lamps and decorative objects of great material and poetic richness, and which were often created together with other contemporary artists and designers.

In the 1920s and 30s, Daum continued to evolve its language by following the Art Deco aesthetic, with beautifully crafted geometric shapes, smooth surfaces and elegant stylizatioons. After the Second World War, the manufacture renewed its identity again by specialising in pâte de cristal.

Over time, Daum has been able to renew its language, establishing itself as one of the longest-lived and most recognized European art glass manufacturers.