Pair of glass vases, Auguste Legras

Beautiful pair of brown colored vases with enamle Irises decoration in relief and gilt highlights on top of the vases. 

H: 36,5 cm

Glass manufactory of Auguste Legras in Saint-Denis, French Art Nouveau period.

Lit: Auguste Legras is one of the most famous French glass masters of the Art Nouveau. In 1864, this glass worker acquires the property of the Glassworks and Crystalworks of Saint-Denis near Paris. The business grows and becomes prosperous, gradually reaching a workforce of 1,500 workers and 150 decorators. Legras became the largest French art glass factory until 1914. The Saint-Denis factory was entrusted with the execution of the most prestigious creations. An excellent technician, Auguste Legras invented decoration processes such as mass dyeing, “damassé” gilding or acid release of the tight fabric in relief. But it is the hot enamelling for the execution of floral motifs in relief which will remain the technique of choice of the master and which will make his fame. In 1900, the son Charles succeeded his father, who will stop the activity because of the war in 1914. The production will resume gently after the war, in the new taste of Art Deco but the company will be absorbed in 1924 by the Glass group Lyonnais Souchon-Neuvesel. 

The artistic glassware with enamelled decorations by Legras are not always signed, those of the first years are never signed.