Art Nouveau

The rest of Europe and the America followed France that led the way in the development of a highly ornate style of art as a reaction to academia and the late Victorian era’s general historical consensus. Objects were created as whole entities, works of art produced from flowing lines and natural forms, quite often based on those from nature. ‘Art Nouveau’, translated as ‘new art’ became synonymous with Sigfried Bing, the German born patron of the arts in Paris. He opened a shop in 1900 called 'L'Art Nouveau Bing' which quickly became identifiable with the emergence of the style.

Rene Lalique, one of the leading exponents of the movement, heralded from the home of Art Nouveau – France. Originally a jeweller in Paris, in 1907 Rene Lalique went on to experiment in glass production making perfume bottles. Producing vases, table lamps and perfume vials, he opened his first factory in 1912. His avante-garde works are today highly collectable and sought after.

In America the name to conjure with in connection to the Art Nouveau movement is Louis Comfort Tiffany, the famous glassware manufacturer born 1848. Tiffany is now world-famous for his designs of art glass and leaded works, which were inspired by William Morris a proponent of the Arts & Crafts movement.