Читать книгу Carved & Decorated European Art Glass - Ray Grover - Страница 13

BELGIUM

Val St. Lambert

FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS, the Val St. Lambert Glass Company in Belgium has been producing fine glassware for the home. However, it was not until after 1900 that they seriously entered the field of Art Nouveau. Plates 6, 9 and 11 amply indicate the varied range of their work. Shapewise, their glass vases are not too unusual, but the orange and brown cameo pieces, with a slight iridescence to them, are extremely subtle. They may be readily identified stylewise and colorwise. For over fifty years, beginning in 1906, Charles Graffart was active in the design and production of their art pieces, and in Plate 12 it is certainly evident that he well merited his responsibility. Figural proportions in the intaglio work are extremely fine, as against the rather crude cameo carving found earlier. Val St. Lambert also manufactured a large quantity of minutely carved tableware, usually in a single color and crystal. These pieces were consistently marked with their name or letter abbreviations. The company today is well known for its high standards of quality and design.