The Value of Lalique Vase Antiques

Written 17 May , 2010

In the mid-1800’s, art glass came into existence as a culmination of fine glassmaking when glass blowers began trying out patterns, textures and colors. The blending of different elements and techniques finally led to different kinds of exquisite handcrafted glassware such as bottles, figurines, paperweights, bowls, lampshades and vases. Numerous art glass designs and techniques of such early masters as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Rene Lalique are used up to this day.

The famous Lalique glassware was manufactured by Rene Lalique in Paris from the 1890’s until 1945. Rene Lalique was born on April 6 1860 in the small village of Ay in France’s Marne region. He worked as a glass designer and became famous for his marvelous creations of vases, chandeliers, jewelry, perfume bottles, clocks, and in his final years, automobile hood embellishments. He died on May 5, 1945.

All lalique vase antiques which were manufactured before 1945 bore the hallmark of the R. Lalique signature. Lalique creations produced after 1945 were simply marked Lalique.

The Antiques Roadshow has exhibited the Lalique art glass collection and these highly-prized items which include vase antiques sold for thousands of dollars. Before you take out your credit card to purchase a Lalique piece, there are some things you need to be aware of.

There are a lot of bogus Lalique pieces being sold in flea markets and antique shops. Most of these fakes come from the Czech Republic and Romania where they are passed off as clever reproductions. You should read informative books about Lalique art glasses or get reliable information on the internet to educate you not only about the prices of particular pieces but how to tell the fakes from the genuine pieces as well.

Some Lalique art glasses of 1920’s design are still being produced today. One example is the Bacchantes Vase which can be purchased from the Lalique store or through hundreds of authorized dealers and shops. These pieces are produced from the original Lalique molds and come in different colors. You should train yourself to differentiate these pieces from the 1920’s and 1930’s vase antiques. A slight color change can mean a great difference in price.

There are a lot of fake Lalique car decorations and there are several ways to spot the fakes. Here’s one. The originals have fittings which can be screwed on radiator caps; newer versions have flat bases and look more like paperweights.

Collect fairly inexpensive Lalique to start with. Be sure you have more experience when you start collecting the more expensive lalique vase antiques.