Imre Jakabffy (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 8. (Budapest, 1984)

VARGA, Vera: Art Nouveau art glasses

2. Vase, Emile Gallé, c. 1890. Double layered, engraved, acid-etched glass. Ht. 15,5 cm. The pieces of the 'Poèmes Vitrifiés' have a much more original symbolic system, the representations, which carry the poetical meaning are landscapes of spring, night and dawn. Proust, in his famous work: À la Recherche du Temps Perdu, often refers to Gallé's glasses. The three series: 'Vases Noirs', 'Les Hommes Noirs' and 'Vases de Tristesse' are closely related to each other in their themes and executing technics, as well. The first pieces of the 'Vases Noirs' series, also referred to as 'Verres Hyalithes', were executed for the Exhibition in Paris in 1889, Vases de Tristesse is the name of vases, made after 1890 and dealing with death, unhappy, melancholical events. The main themes of the former 3. Vase (ornamental chalice), Emile Gallé, c. 1900. Blown glass, decorated with enameling and marqueterie sur verre. Ht. 35 cm. series are (e. g. Orpheus and Eurydice, Les Sens de la Vie that vase was dedicated to Gallé's friend, Edmond Rostand, there is a quatation of Victor Hugo at the base of the piece) the pieces of the latter series often immortalize the memory of dead friends, the representations of shivering, dying flowers suggest mortality, death. Examining these glass works of Gallé as works of art of full value, we have to