Emile Galle

Portrait, Emile Galle

Emile Galle was a French designer who formed part of the Art Nouveau movement.  He lived between 1846 and 1904.  He was one of France's most celebrated designers of the time.  As a furniture designer he worked most with glass however, he has other pieces made with wood.

Galle was the leading designer of the Art Nouveau style and of the modern renaissance of French glass-work.  Emile Galle stated out by working in his fathers factory.  His first works were made of clear glass and were carefully engraved in enamel.  As he proceeded he became better and better and started to work with colored glass.








Vase by Emile Galle showing
Japanese influences.

His glass-work was of great success in the Paris world exhibition of 1878.  Galle's originality in his works made a great impression in the Paris exhibition of 1889.  Over the years, Galle also became interested in Japanese art. 

Emile Galle was very experimental.  He liked to try many different techniques.  Infact his works are very versatile.  He uses methods like wheel cutting, acid etching, metallic foils and using air bubbles to create a certain effect.
When he returned to his home town his aim was to promote craftsmanship and try influence people to move away from the idea of mass production and machinery. 

As he grew in popularity, so did his company.  By the end of the 19th his workshop employed almost 300 employees.  He worked with other famous Art Nouveau artists like Eugene Rosseau.  His glass enterprise continued to flourish till 1913.  His works were very naturalistic.  Most of them were predominantly floristic and soft.  He aimed to depict nature and communicate a sense of utopia his audience.


















Emile Galle also conducted a study on botany and this was the main influence on his works.  Almost all of the time his works had leaves, ethereal flowers, vines and fruits.  Galle also created some furniture inspired by the Rococo style.  These usually had an organic feel to them.  They were made out of wood and still kept the theme of nature.

Today Emile Galle's works are still very popular, especially with collectors.  His works are very highly priced and valuable.