French Art Nouveau Wheel-Carved Cameo Glass Vase by Gallé

A French Art Nouveau wheel-carved cameo glass vase by Emile Gallé, featuring a large carved purple and orange iris flower against a two-toned clear and purple ground. Gallé’s observational skills and study of flora rivaled botanists of his day and he published several articles on horticulture for the Lorraine region. His scientific interests undoubtedly informed his creative process. The wheel-carving technique allowed him to articulate the delicate veining of the flower petals and leaves. Silver foil, suspended between the layers of glass, adds an abstract element to the vase. Similarly, the artist’s color palate plays upon sunrise and sunset and the allegory of day and night. Circa 1900.