A Daum cameo-glass plafonnier, designed with elderberries and leaves in dark red glass overlaid on cased glass in shades of yellow and orange and sold with original bronze fitments for suspension. Cameo mark “Daum, Nancy” with croix de Lorraine. France c1910

Diam. 40cm/16in, Ht.(as displayed)90/36in

Daum Frères, Nancy 1900,

• The famous Daum glass factory dates back to 1878 when Jean Daum a lawyer with no glass-making experience, took the Sainte-Catherine glass-works in Nancy as payment for an outstanding debt.

• His two sons soon became partners in the business, August in 1879 and Antonin in 1887.

• The 1889 World Exposition and the objects exhibited by Art Nouveau master Emile Gallé greatly inspired the Daum brothers and the “Daum Frères” glass factory was opened later that year.

• In 1901 Gallé founded the École de Nancy, the brothers soon became members and the glass-work produced by the firm helped establish Art Nouveau as a new era in decorative arts.

• Lighting was in its infancy as an art form and Daum collaborated with designers of metalwork such as Edgar Brandt and Louis Majorelle to produce creations of appropriate verve and originality.

• Daum along with Gallé are considered the premier French glass designers of the era.