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Gallé Centenary ExhibitionTo mark the 100th anniversary of the death of one of the most famous glassmakers of all time, Broadfield House Glass Museum will be hosting a special exhibition of glass by Emile Gallé.
Born in 1846 in Nancy, France, Gallé went on to become one of the leading proponents of the Art Nouveau movement - a decorative style that swept across Europe and North America in the late 19th century, influencing everything from architecture to cutlery. Gallé was impressed by the Stourbridge cameo glass on display at the 1878 International Exhibition in Paris and created his own styles of cameo and enamelled glass, using Nature as his main source of inspiration. His radical designs and endless experimentation have influenced generations of glassmakers, even a century after his death in 1904. The exhibition will feature cameo, enamelled and ‘Marquetry’ glass: a technique he created with coloured hot glass. There will also be rare examples of Gallé’s verreries parlantes (speaking glassware) and vases de tristesse (vases of sadness), which feature emotive inscriptions.The majority of works in this exhibition are on loan from the Dr and Mrs Smits collection held by the MSC Forsyth Centre Galleries at Texas A&M University, and have never been on display in this country before. Other fine examples of Gallé’s work are on loan from Brighton & Hove Museums and the Birkenhead Collection (a private collection). The exhibition “Gallé: A Centenary”, will run from 21st August 2004 until 30th January 2005 and admission to the Museum is free during normal opening hours, Tuesday to Sunday, 12noon to 4pm. The Museum opening hours will be extended to 10am to 4pm on 28th, 29th and 30th August during the 2004 International Festival of Glass. As part of the Festival programme, Dan Klein, author and expert on 20th century decorative glass, will be giving a lecture on the famous French glassmaker on Monday 30th August. Tickets are limited and must be booked in advance. They cost £35 each and include a champagne buffet. For more information, please contact Broadfield House Glass Museum on +44 (0)1384 812745 or visit www.glassmuseum.org.uk. |
The Glass Association
