The Signature
The Story of René Lalique
Renowned for its elegant and refined style, deeply inspired by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, as well as for its exceptional craftsmanship in glass and crystal, the Lalique brand attracts art lovers and collectors the world over.
Guided by Exceptional Craftsmanship
Lalique owes its name to its creator, René Lalique, who began his career working for prestige jewellers such as Cartier and Boucheron before opening his own workshop in Paris. His innovative, avant-garde approach immediately set him apart, notably through his use of then highly unusual materials such as enamel, horn and ivory.
The Founding of the René Lalique Glassworks
Recognised as a master jeweller of the Art Nouveau period, the turning point of his career came at the 1900 Universal Exhibition, where his first pieces in glass began to attract attention, subsequently earning him the title of one of the finest master glassmakers of the Art Deco movement. The creations he designed for such prestigious clients as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, King Farouk of Egypt and the British royal family established him as one of the foremost craftsmen in his field. He took over a glassworks in 1913 and soon had his own built a few years later in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace, where production began in 1922.
The Lalique Family Heritage and its Development
At the time, René Lalique's creative energy seemed to know no bounds, spilling over into a whole host of fields, particularly that of travel, with the decoration of ocean liners and luxury trains, and even the creation of stained-glass windows. When he died in 1945, his son Marc took over the running of the company which, under his management, expanded into crystal.
The company remained in the family until 1994, when it was taken over by the Pochet group.
In 2008, the Swiss company Art et Fragrance (Lalique Group since 2016), headed up by Silvio Denz, acquired the Maison Lalique with the steadfast aim of enhancing its reputation worldwide.
