René Jules Lalique

Place: Aÿ

Born: 1860

Death: 1945

Biography:

Early Life and Education

, a renowned French jeweller, medallist, and glass designer, was born on April 6, 1860, in Aÿ, France. His early life was spent learning the methods of design and art that would later define his career. At the age of two, his family moved to the suburbs of Paris, but they traveled to Aÿ for summer holidays, which influenced Lalique's naturalistic glasswork.

Artistic Career

Lalique began his apprenticeship with goldsmith Louis Aucoc in Paris after his father's death. He later studied at the Ecole des arts décoratifs and attended evening classes at the Crystal Palace School of Art Sydenham, London. This exposure to various artistic disciplines shaped his unique style.

• Lalique worked as a freelance designer for several French jewelry firms, including Cartier and Boucheron, from 1881.
• In 1890, he opened his own jewelry store in the Opéra district of Paris, where he created some of his most famous designs.
• His main motif was the natural world, featuring motifs like dragonflies, orchids, and peacocks, crafted using a combination of enamel, gemstones, and semi-precious materials.

Notable Works and Legacy

creations in glass art are his most notable works. He became known for his Art Deco style in the 1920s. Some of his notable patrons include Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, who commissioned over 140 of his works.

• Lalique's work can be found in various museums, including the Musée d'Orsay, which houses an extensive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces.
• His daughter, Suzanne Lalique, was a painter and set designer for the Comédie-Française.
• His granddaughter, Marie Claude-Lalique (b. 1936), was also a glass maker who died on April 14, 2003, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Death and Burial

René Lalique died on May 1 or 5, 1945, in Paris, and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France. View René Jules Lalique's Artworks on Wikioo.org Read more about René Lalique on Wikipedia