D’argental - Paul Nicolas (1875–1952) Art Deco Mushroom Lamp

Elegant vintage Art Deco lamp signed D'ARGENTAL (by master glassmaker Paul NICOLAS, 1875–1952) featuring a flower-shaped structure made of multi-layered glass paste etched with acid, decorated with red cherry branches on an opalescent golden-yellow background. In very good overall and electrical condition; features dual lighting, a lampshade, and a base. D’Argental signature with the Cross of Lorraine incorporated into the design on the base. Dimensions: 35 cm high x 18 cm wide.


D’Argental represents one of the most distinctive signatures of the Saint-Louis crystalworks. Originating from Münzthal—literally “the valley of silver”—this name refers to a line of multilayered crystal developed in the refined spirit of Art Nouveau. This line, produced between 1910 and the late 1930s, features creations in a variety of forms—vases, candy dishes, lighting fixtures, and even toiletries sets—where the material itself becomes the decoration. These works are now associated either with the factory’s design studio led by Joseph Bleichner or with the world of master glassmaker Paul Nicolas, whose influence remains pivotal in the history of this brand. A study of the D’Argental signatures thus reveals the full richness of a discreet brand that has now become a source of fascination for collectors.

Paul Nicolas’s career was marked by numerous awards, the most significant of which include a bronze medal at the 1900 World’s Fair as a collaborator of Émile Gallé, the Medal of Honor at the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” medal in 1936, and the gold medal at the 1937 International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques. It is also worth noting that Paul Nicolas was a talented draftsman and watercolorist. He graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy.