Estimate, price of the works, pâte de verre vases, Daum vase

If you own a pâte de verre work made by the Daum glassworks or after, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will work to carry out a free appraisal of your work, and will provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your work, we'll direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of Daum pâte de verre pieces

Daum is a French glassmaker quite well known to fans of glass services. If you own one, it may be worth more than you think. On the art market, prices for Daum pâte de verre works can be very high at the auctioneers' gavel.

His pâte de verre works are particularly prized and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €60 to €800,800, a fairly substantial range, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Daum pâte de verre.

In 2019, an Art Deco-style pâte de verre vase sold for €12,000 while it was estimated at €2 000 to €3 000 by Sotheby's.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

The history of the Daum glassworks

Jean Daum (1825-1885), a French glassmaker, gave his name to the world-renowned Daum company. A notary by profession in northern France, he moved to Nancy after the war with Prussia and opened a glassworks there in 1878.

The business soon became a family affair, with his son working with him from the outset. Auguste Daum took over management of the glassworks on his father's death, and was joined by his brother Antonin.

More closely involved with the artistic side of the manufacture, the latter signed several works, and pieces signed Antonin Daum are more frequently found on the auction market: he heads Daum's artistic department.

Antonin Daum played a crucial role in the development of pâte de verre, a technique that quickly became emblematic of the manufacture. His interest in new methods enabled him to explore the infinite possibilities offered by this material.

He produced his first works using the technique of acid decoration, a process that involves creating patterns by etching with a corrosive acid.

At the same time, he developed a passion for multi-layered glass, which enables different shades and textures to be superimposed, enriching the chromatic palette of his creations.

It was also under his guidance that wheel engraving, a delicate and precise technique, found its place in the creative process. To perfect his work, Antonin recruits Jacques Grüber, a talented artist in charge of creating the pieces.

Grüber, with his artistic vision, broadens the horizons of Daum glassworks, contributing to the rise of pâte de verre as a true art form in its own right. Together, they took part in the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, where their skills were showcased.

The factory then exhibited throughout France, receiving several awards for its work. At the 1900 Universal Exhibition, both the Daum glassworks and the Gallé glassworks receive a prize for their work, the beginning of international recognition.

The success is reinforced by the arrival of artists such as Henri Bergé, Émile Writz and Amalric Walter, who successively joined the manufacture at close intervals.

Their presence contributed to the artistic development of the house, enabling Daum pâte de verre to establish itself as an essential reference in the field of artistic glass, combining innovative techniques and aesthetic sensibility.

Focus on the cloisonné vase by Daum and Majorelle

Glass paste, an innovation from the Daum glassworks 

Glass paste was reinvented by the maison Daum, it was Almaric Walter who initiated it. The technique has been around since the time of the Egyptians, around 500,000 BC, but it's thanks to Walter's innovation that pâte de verre is enjoying a new lease of life.

This revived technique is based on a lost-wax casting process, enabling extremely precise mass production.

This process offers results identical to the original model, which is impossible to achieve with blown crystal, often subject to the imperfection of handwork.

Glass paste is composed of a mixture of crystal and lead, giving it remarkable luminosity and depth of color.

The creative process begins with the creation of an initial model in terracotta, which is then covered with a flexible elastomer mold. This is a crucial step, as it enables us to faithfully reproduce every detail of the original work. Wax is then applied to the mold, then covered with plaster, forming a negative mold.

A 20-day firing is required in an oven, a time that may seem long but is essential to bring the groisil out of the plaster and guarantee the piece's solidity.

This meticulous process makes it possible to create around 200 identical vases of the same quality, illustrating the expertise and craftsmanship of the Daum house.

Thanks to this technique, pâte de verre has become not only a symbol of innovation, but also a true art in its own right, celebrated for its beauty and originality.

Focus on a Daum vase with iris decoration

This vase by Daum embodies the finesse and elegance characteristic of Art Nouveau, with a touch of plant poetry. The choice of a delicate floral motif, in this case irises, is typical of the naturalistic inspiration that inhabits Daum creations.

This motif gently extends along the slender silhouette of the vase, subtly shifting from a soft green background to salmon pink, creating a gradient effect reminiscent of daybreak over a garden in bloom.

The color transition testifies to exceptional technical mastery, where each layer of glass seems to melt into the next, giving the whole a dreamlike appearance.

Fine etching and acid staining bring out the delicate details of the petals and stems, while the slender shape of the slightly flared neck gives the piece a refined, slender allure.

A delicately engraved dragonfly on the top of the vase completes this bucolic atmosphere, adding an element of life within this plant scene.

This type of piece demonstrates the Daum brothers' talent for marrying technique and artistic inspiration, transforming natural elements into decorative objects of rare beauty.

Through this vase, the Daum house offers a true tribute to nature, sublimating the materials and infusing their glass with an almost living breath, which captures the light and diffuses it into a soft glow.

Recognizing the signature on a Daum product

Not all pieces produced by the Daum glassworks are signed. Moreover, as several artists have worked and sometimes collaborated for the manufactory, the vase may be signed with another name even though it was produced by the Daum glassworks. That's why it's important to have your pieces appraised.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by Daum or after the artist, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.