Vaas met opgesmolten glaspoeder in bruin en oranje c. 1910 - 1915

Editor: Here we have a glass vase by Daum Frères, created somewhere between 1910 and 1915. The earthy tones and textured surface make it feel almost like a landscape painting captured in glass. I’m particularly struck by how the colors seem to melt and flow together. What’s your take on it? Curator: Ah, yes, Daum Frères! They had such a touch, didn’t they? Looking at it, I see more than just a decorative object. For me, it’s a testament to the Art Nouveau movement’s love affair with nature. See how the form echoes the gentle curve of a flower stem, or perhaps even a human form? And those colours! Burnt orange, deep browns...like a forest floor after a rain shower, or the setting sun bleeding into the horizon. Editor: I like that, the idea of it being both organic and representative. The way the glass is manipulated almost looks like molten earth or even cooled lava. Curator: Exactly! It’s raw and refined at the same time, isn’t it? They used a technique involving layering different colors of molten glass, sometimes incorporating glass powders to achieve that beautiful, mottled effect. Do you see how the light catches those tiny imperfections? It's as if it’s holding onto secrets within the glass itself, winking back at us. Editor: That's lovely – tiny secrets captured in glass. Curator: It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What was the artist thinking as they were creating it? Were they inspired by a specific memory, or simply chasing a fleeting moment of beauty? Sometimes, the questions are as important as the answers. Editor: Definitely! It really gives me a new appreciation for decorative art. It’s more than just pretty things; it's a moment in time. Curator: Precisely! And each piece has a story to tell, if we take the time to listen. It’s about connection, isn’t it? To the artist, to nature, to ourselves.