Art Nouveau Glass
French Antiques
Iconic French Makers
Techniques & Styles
French Decorative Arts
100

This artist, famous for his intricate glass vases and lamps, is known for his use of the cameo glass technique.

Who is Émile Gallé?

100

This French king gave his name to ornate 17th-century furniture characterized by heavy gilding and luxurious upholstery.

Who is Louis XIV?

100

This glassmaking company, still active today, is famous for its intricate crystal works and chandeliers.

What is Baccarat?

100

This decorative glass technique, used by Gallé and Daum, involves carving through layers of colored glass.

What is cameo glass?

100

This highly decorative French style, popular during the reign of Louis XV, is known for its asymmetry and use of natural motifs.

What is Rococo?

200

Favrile glass, known for its shimmering iridescence, was first produced by this American rival of French glassmakers.

Who is Louis Comfort Tiffany?

200

Known as the "Sun King," Louis XIV also established this royal workshop that produced mirrors and fine furnishings.

What is the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins?

200

This French art glassmaker introduced thick, sculptural glass pieces during the Art Deco period, often featuring frosted designs.

Who is René Lalique?

200

This term refers to glass that has been deliberately cracked to create a web of fine fractures.

What is craquelure?

200

Introduced in the 18th century, this type of antique French sofa features a long seat with a partial backrest.

What is a chaise longue?

300

This decorative art movement, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, inspired Émile Gallé’s floral and organic designs.

What is Art Nouveau?

300

This small, curved writing desk, popular in the 18th century, is named after the French word for “small writing table.”

What is a bonheur du jour?

300

This maker, known for cameo glass, often signed his pieces with a mountain range motif in addition to his name.

What is Legras?

300

A type of opaque glass, often used in 18th-century French chandeliers, is named after the Italian word for “milk.”

What is opaline?

300

In 18th-century France, small painted porcelain plaques were often used to decorate furniture or jewelry. These were known as this.

What are miniatures?

400

Often confused with Gallé’s work, this glassmaker also used cameo glass techniques and signed pieces with a cross of Lorraine.

Who is Daum?

400

This French porcelain manufacturer, established in the 18th century, is world-renowned for its fine ceramics featuring rich colors and gold accents.

What is Sèvres?

400

Known for creating tableware and home decor, this company is synonymous with French elegance and was founded in 1824.

What is Christofle?

400

Art Deco designs often include this geometric, zigzagging pattern, popular in the 1920s.

What is chevron?

400

This French city became a hub for Art Nouveau furniture and glassmaking, with artists like Gallé and Daum working there.

What is Nancy?

500

Gallé often incorporated these tiny air bubbles into his glass for a delicate, sparkling effect.

What is pâte de verre?

500

French clocks from the 18th century often feature elaborate sculptures and this type of movement, which strikes the hour and half-hour.

What is a pendule à poser?

500

A favorite of Napoleon, this French silversmith created many of the empire’s ceremonial and practical table settings.

Who is François-Dominique Naudin?

500

This technique, involving powdered glass fused into designs, was perfected by the Daum studio in Nancy, France.

What is pâte de verre?

500

This French decorative technique, often used in marquetry, involves inlaying wood with brass and tortoiseshell.

What is boulle work?

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