Daum, since 1878
Daum, the legendary glassmaker master, has kept alive for more than a century a love relationship with the greatest artists of its time, giving their work of art a second life of crystal and colours. From the Ecole de Nancy, from Art Nouveau to Art Decoratif, from Majorelle to Dali, Arman and Hilton McConnico, Daum has not missed any of the magic rendez-vous of the artistic creation and modern savoir- faire, which has always renewed the alliance of art and art craft. Few brands have worked with as many artists: for 140 years, more than 350 exceptional signatures have constituted a heritage beyond compare, a unique collection. How to convey those works into crystal sculptures? This is where Daum’s secret lies: shaper of the exception, highly knowledgeable workshop, laboratory of wonders, designer of incomparable objects.
For his first collaboration with Daum, Patrick Villas realizes a proud and powerful panther’s head. Felines are a central theme of his work. The crystal worked with the lost-wax technique transcribes all the work of the material, and preserves the modeling traces specific to the work of Patrick Villas, giving birth to a very contemporary sculpture. The crystal plays with the light and brings a new emotional momentum to Patrick Villas’ work.
“In my work, I use shadows and natural lights to create a living interaction between the interlocutor and the work. I suggest the details and the shadows complete them. Throughout my career, I researched different materials and techniques: painting, sculpture, bronze, clay, ceramics and now crystal. I’ve know Daum since my youth, when I crossed the whole of France in search of antiquities and captivating objects, the vases and lampshades by Daum particularly touched me. Having the opportunity to create especially for Daum Nancy is an honour.” – Patrick Villas