Carafe aux croix de Lorraine
In 1878, Jean Daum took over the Avril, Bertrand et Cie glassworks which had been built in Nancy in 1874. For ten years or so, production was restricted to watch faces, bottles and glasses. But it gradually branched out after the death of Jean Daum in 1885. His sons Auguste and Antonin worked together, the former handling administration and the latter taking charge of artwork. It is generally accepted that their artistic production began in earnest in 1891, the year that this model was designed.
The complex decoration of this carafe arranges Lorraine crosses and Japanesque clouds alternately on diagonal bands. The decor has been etched and gilded. The motif of the Lorraine cross, taken from the regional coat-of-arms, refers to the Lotharingian culture which developed in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. This Carafe with Lorraine crosses is typical of this activity in 1890-1893.
