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Learn MoreGallé Polar Bear Vase
- This towering Art Nouveau vase is one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s firm
- The vase is monumental in size and one of only a few ever produced in this rare pattern
- It depicts polar bears adrift on an ice floe, framed by distant mountains and an icy blue backdrop
- The vase pays homage to the groundbreaking expeditions of Jean-Baptiste Charcot
- Get complete item description here
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Émile Gallé
Circa 1927
This towering Art Nouveau vase stands as one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic glassmaking firm. The Polar Bear vase, or Ours Polaires in French, is monumental in size and exceptionally rare, with only a few ever produced in this beautiful pattern.
The vase’s impressive scale required an extraordinary amount of glass and heightened craftsmanship to achieve its intricate details. It depicts. . .
Émile Gallé
Circa 1927
This towering Art Nouveau vase stands as one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic glassmaking firm. The Polar Bear vase, or Ours Polaires in French, is monumental in size and exceptionally rare, with only a few ever produced in this beautiful pattern.
The vase’s impressive scale required an extraordinary amount of glass and heightened craftsmanship to achieve its intricate details. It depicts polar bears adrift on an ice floe, framed by distant mountains and an icy blue backdrop. The use of layered opaque cameo glass makes the bear appear to be floating among the ice, creating a captivating, three-dimensional effect that was simply unmatched by Gallé's peers.
Believed to be inspired by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, the vase pays homage to his groundbreaking Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, which advanced the scientific understanding of these remote regions. This remarkable vase reflects the Art Nouveau movement’s fascination with nature and Gallé’s legacy as a pioneer in glass artistry.
Emile Gallé opened a small woodworker's shop in 1885, where he began experimenting with marquetry designs in furniture and naturalistic glass designs. In 1889, he displayed his new glass creations at the Paris International Exhibition, where the designs and colors not previously seen caused an immediate sensation. The new style of Art Nouveau had begun to appear, and the movement's aesthetics and devotion to nature appealed greatly to the young Gallé. In 1894 Gallé built a manufacturing plant in Nancy and began creating his own designs from inception through production. Gallé personally developed many of the designs, and he was known to actively make alterations and approve the designs of his talented team of designers and craftsmen he employed at the "Cristallerie D'Emile Gallé."
Signed “Gallé”
14 1/2” high x 11” diameter
Maker: | Emile Gallé |
Period: | 20th Century |
Origin: | France |
Type: | Vases/Rose Bowls |
Style: | Cameo |
Depth: | 11.0 in. (27.94 cm) |
Width: | 11.0 in. (27.94 cm) |
Height: | 14.5 in. (36.83 cm) |
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Read MoreAt M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More