Daum Nancy | 594

Daum is a French crystal studio founded in 1878 in Nancy by Jean Daum. The company quickly became one of the leading crystal manufacturers in Europe, with its growth continued by his sons, Auguste and Antonin Daum. During the peak of the Art Nouveau movement, Daum gained a global reputation, particularly for introducing the unique pâte de verre technique, which involves using crushed glass placed in heat-resistant molds and melted in a furnace. This technique became the foundation for many of the company’s crystal sculptures and artistic glass pieces.

Daum was one of the key players in the Art Nouveau movement, with its products distinguished by delicate, naturalistic forms and complex finishing techniques such as acid-etching, sculpting, enameling, and engraving. In 1900, the company won the "Grand Prix" medal at the World’s Fair, and its glass became a symbol of luxury and refined design. Daum became so recognized that it became a major competitor to Émile Gallé, and after his death in 1904, it took the lead in decorative glass.

In 1906, Daum revived the ancient pâte de verre method, developing it further and using it in products such as window panels in the 1930s. The company continues to use this technique today, creating exceptional glass artworks. Daum, with its main production facilities in Nancy and the nearby village of Vannes-le-Châtel, still manufactures its products by hand, preserving traditional craftsmanship and attention to detail. Daum has stores in Nancy, at Place Stanislas, and in New York City on Park Avenue.