Category
Decorative items
René Lalique, after a drawing by his daughter, Suzanne
1926
Enamelled pressed glass
The property of the Musée des Arts et Métiers
In the 1910s, Suzanne Lalique designed various bottles and powder boxes for her father. A dozen or so years later she extended the scope of her creations to include dishes, bowls and vases, with designs that took Lalique to the forefront of the Art Deco movement.
In 1917, she married Paul Burty Haviland, an avant-garde American photographer and collector of Aztec art. Suzanne took inspiration from her husband’s collection, but also from African, Japanese and South American art.
She designed the Tourbillons (“Whirlpools”) vase in 1926. The original version was made of clear glass, with a black enamel finish that enhanced the stylised plant motifs. The enamel was obtained by mixing powdered glass with a binder and applying it with a brush. The vase was then refired at low temperature to fix the enamel.
This version was produced up until 1951. Much later, in 2005, a crystal version replaced the glass model, giving it superior sparkle and lustre. Tourbillons has since been produced in different sizes, colours and finishes, and the design has lent its inspiration to a bowl and a perfume bottle.
By the way: During your visit you can see an original glass version, thanks to a loan from the Musée des Arts et Métiers, and compare it with a crystal model. You’ll be able to see for yourself the difference in radiance.
