Daum Nancy – Rare Polychrome Lidded Box With A Lattice Pattern And Yellow Dots, Circa 1920

Daum Nancy – Rare polychrome lidded box with a latticework design and yellow dots

Circa 1920 – Art Nouveau / Early Art Deco

Rare lidded glass box signed Daum Nancy, distinguished by its unusual geometric design of bright yellow dots set within an intertwined purple lattice, on a finely marbled background of mauve and beige tones.

Historical Context: The “résille” motif

This motif represents a particularly interesting and relatively uncommon facet of Daum’s artistic production: the exploration of intertwined colored networks, known as “résilles,” incorporating dots of contrasting colors.

Unlike the naturalistic floral and landscape compositions traditionally associated with the École de Nancy, these creations explore rhythm, repetition, and abstraction through the use of colored glass.

This decorative vocabulary developed during Daum’s transition from Art Nouveau to the geometric language of Art Deco, particularly during the early decades of the 20th century.

Significant examples of this artistic exploration are documented in auction archives.

Christie’s has notably cataloged a Daum bowl on a pedestal adorned with yellow dots set within a purple lattice on a purple background, constituting a particularly close parallel to the chromatic and ornamental treatment of this box (Christie’s, archive lot no. 4423271).

Another example, also documented by Christie’s (lot no. 4423282), features pink dots within an orange and blue latticework, reflecting the manufacturer’s experimentation with this unique decorative vocabulary.

This lidded box represents a rare application of this ornamental language to a small object, whose body and lid form a cohesive decorative whole. Its contrasting lid and striped handle extend the composition beyond the main body.

Provenance: Philippe Olland Collection

Formerly in the collection of Philippe Olland, founder of the Musée Émaux et Verres d’Art in Montigny-lès-Metz, France.

Over the course of more than thirty years, Philippe Olland built a significant collection of French Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware. His collection and research reflect a particular interest in the technical and artistic innovations of the École de Nancy.

He is also the author of Dictionary of Master Glassmakers: Marks & Signatures, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, published by Éditions Faton, a reference work dedicated to French glassware.

Bibliography and Comparative References

• Claude Pétry, Daum in the Museums of Nancy, 1989. Related examples of Daum “résille” designs are listed under numbers 98 and 99 in the catalog for the Rouillac auction of January 7, 2007, lot 103.

• Christie’s, archive lot no. 4423271: Daum Nancy bowl on a pedestal decorated with yellow dots within a purple lattice pattern.

• Christie’s, archive lot no. 4423282: Daum Nancy bowl on a pedestal with a polychrome decoration of dots and a lattice pattern.

• Philippe Olland, Dictionary of Master Glassmakers: Marks & Signatures, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, Éditions Faton, revised edition, 2023.

Signature: “Daum Nancy” engraved on the body.

Height: 9 cm, including the lid.