Art Nouveau Vase Attributed To Legras, With An Enamel Decoration Of Violets, France, Circa 1900

An elegant French art glass vase from the Art Nouveau period, attributed to the famous Legras & Cie factory in Saint-Denis, near Paris, circa 1900.

The vase features a slender and harmonious shape, consisting of a cylindrical body resting on a slightly flared circular base. It culminates in a spectacular, widely flared opening, whose deeply undulating rim evokes the petals of a flower. The contours are delicately highlighted with gilding, accentuating the piece’s sculptural character.

The surface of translucent gray glass—frosted and subtly textured—is adorned with a charming polychrome floral design depicting violets in various shades of mauve, purple, and white.

The small flowers are arranged asymmetrically on slender stems, accompanied by leaves and plant motifs accented with gilding. This naturalistic composition lends the vase a great sense of visual lightness and perfectly illustrates the floral aesthetic of Art Nouveau.

The combination of delicately colored glazes, frosted glass, and gilded accents attests to the refinement of French decorative arts during the Belle Époque.

Historical Note — Legras & Cie

François-Théodore Legras (1839–1916) was one of the leading figures in French artistic glassmaking in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Based in Saint-Denis, near Paris, he ran a major workshop producing decorative glassware characterized by a wide variety of shapes, colors, and techniques.

The Legras workshops were particularly noted for their vases featuring enameled floral designs, frosted surfaces, and motifs inspired by nature. These creations are part of the Art Nouveau movement, which emphasized organic lines, flowers, and plant forms.

This vase features several characteristics associated with Legras’s work: a naturalistic floral design, polychrome glazes, a frosted surface, and a particularly dynamic rim.

The vase bears no visible signature. Its attribution to Legras & Cie is based on its stylistic and technical characteristics and remains unconfirmed.

Characteristics

Origin: France
Period: circa 1900
Manufacturer: attributed to Legras & Cie, Saint-Denis
Style: Art Nouveau
Material: frosted glass, polychrome enamels, and gilding
Signature: unsigned

Dimensions

Height: 25.5 cm

Weight

660 g

The condition is shown in the photographs.

Reference: K1171.0.3.111026