Vase

Daum Frères

c. 1895

Acid polished, etched, and polished glass

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A tall, slender glass vase with a flared base is decorated with etched thistles. The vase has a metallic, iridescent finish. A tall, slender glass vase with a flared base is decorated with etched thistles. The vase has a metallic, iridescent finish. Similar to Tiffany in America, the Daum Frères firm in France gained international recognition for its mastery of Art Nouveau designs. Among the wide variety of glass manufactured by the Daum family firm, the best known are their stylized organic forms created through carving encased glass. As seen in this vase, a bitumen-resist was painted on the glass to depict thistle and floral motifs, and then the vase was placed in hydroflouric acid to reduce unpainted areas. The process was repeated to create the textur