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Daum
Most of Daum's crystal is pâte
de verre which was created approximately 5,000 years ago when
people had
the idea of heating glass to a high temperature, obtaining a sort
of paste which could be worked by hand. They
created jewelry, amulets and little perfume bottles that have since been
found in Egyptian tombs.
However, pâte de verre fell out of
use for several thousand years and was even forgotten. It was not until the late
nineteenth century that this material was "rediscovered" and
used by the sculptor Henri Cross for the benefit of Daum. Its use has
been steadily on the increase
ever since. Today Daum is the only crystal manufacturer in the world
able to create this outstanding material with an output that, in quality
as well as quantity, can meet
international demand.
Daum was founded in Nancy in 1887,
opened its Art Department in 1891 and won renown for its Art Nouveau
creations. After taking part in the 1900 Universal Exhibition,
Daum
joined forces with Galle and founded the Ecole de Nancy (School of Nancy).
It was not until 1950 that Jacques Daum decided to use crystal, which
is glass with a 24% lead
content, causing the pâte de verre to take on the brilliance and relief
for which it is know today. Indeed, it is actually "pâte de cristal." |