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René Jules Lalique is born on April 6,1860, in
the village of Ay, in the Champagne region of France. Two years later,
his father, a Parisian mercantile agent, moves his family to a suburb
of Paris. They return to Ay for summer holidays, and Lalique will have
a lifelong attachment to his native countryside. In 1872 Enters Collège
Turgot where he begins studying drawing with Justin-Marie Lequien.
In
1876 after the death of his father, René begins working as an
apprentice to the jeweler and goldsmith Louis Aucoc. Aucoc was among
the leading luxury jewelers in Paris and under his guidance, René gains
practical experience, learning rudimentary skills and the properties of
a jeweler's raw materials. René also attends evening classes at the
Ecole des Arts Décoratifs. In 1878 Moves to London to continue his
studies. Two years are spent in London, where he attends the Sydenham
College located in the Crystal Palace. In the freedom of his new
environment, Lalique cultivates his graphic design skills, and develops
a unique and naturalistic style that would later become his trademark
as a jeweler.
In 1880 Returns to Paris after studying in London
for two years. Lalique works as an illustrator of jewelry for one of
his relatives, M. Vuilleret, on rue de Santonage. He also begins to
work as a freelance jewelry designer.
In 1881 Spends a year as
an illustrator of jewelry with Auguste Petit, on rue de Chabanais. In
1882 Continues independent jewelry design and illustration work. In
time, he is creating designs for Aucoc, Boucheron, Cartier, Destape,
Gariod, Hamelin, Jacta, and others. In 1884 Works for two years in
partnership with Varenne, who placed his drawings with jewelry
manufacturers; these bore the trade stamp Lalique & Varenne, 84,
rue de Vaugirard.
Lalique drawings are displayed at the
National Exhibition of Industrial Arts, organized at the Louvre on the
occasion of the presentation of the Crown jewels in the Salle des Etats.
In
1885 at the end of the year, he takes over Jules Destapes' jewelry
workshop on Place Gaillon. Here he is able to concentrate on the
innovative jewelry for which he was becoming well-known. During this
time he makes an increasing use of novel and inexpensive materials in
his creations, including translucent enamels, semiprecious stones,
ivory and hard stones. In 1886 Marriage to Marie-Louise Lambert. A
daughter, Georgette, born of this first marriage, met a premature death
on December 12, 1910.
In 1889 At the Universal Exhibition in
Paris, the prestigious jewelry firms of Vever and Boucheron include
collaborative works by Lalique (anonymously) in their displays. IN 1892
Two years prior, Lalique opens up at the fashionable address of 20, rue
Thérèse, and meets his future wife Augustine-Alice Ledru, daughter of
the sculptor Auguste Ledru. Augustine-Alice gives birth to Suzanne on
May 4.
Lalique begins to incorporate glass into his jewelry in
the form of cast pates-de-verre. IN 1893 Lalique takes part in a
competition organized by the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs on the
theme of a drinking vessel. He wins the second prize of 500 francs for
his Thistle flowers goblet, and is awarded a medal with special mention
for his Satyr and vine shoots mug. In 1894 Exhibits for the first time
at the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français where he would remain
a regular participant until 1911.Lalique begins to design stage jewelry
for the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt. He also creates pieces for
Siegfried Bing's Maison de l'Art Nouveau, the Paris shop that gave its
name to the Art Nouveau movement.
In 1897 Lalique wins first
prize at the Universal Exhibition in Brussels and is awarded the Legion
of Honor's Croix de Chevalier. In 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris,
Lalique display creates a sensation. René Lalique is hailed as founder
and leader of a new school of modern jewelry design. Lalique becomes an
officer of the Legion of Honor. Augustine-Alice Ledru gives birth to a
second child, Marc, on September 1.
In 1902 International
Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Turin, Italy. Marriage of Lalique and
Augustine-Alice on July 8. Lalique moves into Cours-la-Reine residence.
IN 1903 First participation at the Salon d'Automne where he would
exhibit regularly until 1935. IN 1904 Exhibits with success in the
United States, at the St. Louis World's Fair. In 1905 Opening of the
first retail shop at 24, place Vendôme, near the retail shop of
François Coty. Decorative Arts Exhibition in Liège.
In 1908 One
year before, François Coty commissions Lalique to design his perfume
labels. In time, Lalique creates his first perfume bottles for François
Coty. The teamwork of these two would eventually revolutionize the
perfume industry, by presenting fine perfumes in attractive containers
at affordable prices. He rents the Combs-la-Ville glassworks. "Women's
Precious Jewelry Sets" exhibition at the Musée Galliéria. IN 1909
Lalique continues to experiment with glass manufacturing techniques,
applying technology from French wine and pharmaceutical industries.
First patent application concerning large-run glass production
techniques is submitted.
Death of wife Augustine-Alice Lalique-Ledru.
In
1911 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Turin, Italy.
Lalique exhibits for the first time at the Salon de la Société
Nationale des Beaux-Arts. The first Lalique show devoted entirely to
glass, held at 24, place Vendôme. Collaborates on the design for the
François Coty boutique in New York. The Lalique-designed windows can
still be seen today, at 712 Fifth Avenue in New York (now the Henri
Bendel store). In 1918 During World War I, the factory at
Combs-la-Ville is forced to close. Due to rapid growth, the design and
construction of a new factory is begun in Wingen-sur-Moder, in the
Alsace region. In 1921 it is completed, and remains the factory that
produces Lalique crystal today.
In 1921 Works on the interior
decoration of the French ocean liner Paris. He later works on the
liners De Grasse, Ile-de-France, and Normandie, as well as on the
interiors of luxury trains such as Compagnie des Wagons-Lits (which
later became the Orient Express), designing chandeliers and lighting
panels. IN 1925 Designs the interior of the Sevres Pavilion at the 1925
Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes
in Paris. At this exhibition the term "Art Deco" is derived.
International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in
Paris. Lalique's glass pavilion, which includes a monumental fountain
entitled "The Springs of France", is pivotal in establishing the Art
Deco style. Birth of a son, Jean Raymond, to Lalique and Marie Anère on
March 30. Two years later, Lalique and Marie Anère will have their
second child, Renée Jeanne Georgette. Designs first car mascot
(bouchons de radiateur) for Citroën, the French automobile company. For
the next six years, Lalique would design 27 models for companies such
as Bentley, Bugatti, Delage, Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce, and Voisin.
In
1926 Windows of the Saint-Niçoise church in Reims. Decoration of the
new Worth store in Cannes. The Lido shopping arcade on the
Champs-Elysées. Begins manufacturing the luxuriously satin-finished
vases, bowls, and statuettes which have become synonymous with the
Lalique name. In 1932 The fountains for the Rond-Point des
Champs-Elysées. Main doors to the salon of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko's
palace in Tokyo. Glass and decoration of the Church of St. Matthew in
St. Helier, Isle of Jersey, UK.
In 1935 New boutique opens
September 6, on rue Royale. This boutique continues to serve as the
main Lalique showroom today. In 1939 World War II begins. Despite the
Wingen factory's financial and artistic success, the onset of the War
forces its closure. It remains occupied by the Germans for six years
until the end of the War. In 1945 Death of René Lalique on May 5, at
the age of 85. |
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