The Story of Rene Lalique and His Enchanting Jewellery

Fascinated by the natural world, mythology and the female form, René Lalique’s jewellery has a dreamlike quality, shimmering with unusual gemstones and artisan techniques. He epitomises Art Nouveau in his early work, weaving themes of feminine mystique and nature in iconic motifs, which presented in today’s modern Lalique jewellery are still alluring and avant-garde.

René Lalique was undoubtedly one of the most beloved and recognised decorative artists of the 19^th and 20^th Century. His early works at international expositions won him worldwide acclaim and a prestigious clientele. Always original, he studied ancient techniques and pioneered new ones to create works of art, first in jewellery and later in glass.

In the 1880’s the elite of Paris, for whom Lalique was producing for, favoured the garland style jewellery. This featured large jewellery such as tiaras and brooches which mimicked sprays of foliage and floral bouquets, set with sparkling diamonds and costly gems. Not content with continuing this fashion, René Lalique reworked this style of jewellery crafting a magical fairy-tale style into his work. Heavily influenced by Greek mythology, stylised female forms and the darker more sinister realms of nature, he created masterpieces which to this day remain unrivalled.

Lalique's iconic 'Femme Libelllule (dragonfly-woman) created in 1882 and Hatpin with Wasps from 1899.  

To create his miniature works of art, Lalique sought out unusual gemstones for his palette of natural colours and textures. He chose many beautiful semi-precious gemstones with powerful colours such as opal, chrysoprase, onyx and jade rather than high value gems like diamonds, sapphires and rubies. His use of gold combined with ivory, horn, mother-of-pearl gave sculptural textures. He revived ancient enamel and glass techniques to add realistic details to insects and plants in his jewellery.

Lalique’s final jewellery show was in 1912, his work was being widely copied, and he had discovered a new passion...glass. The lead oxide glass termed as ‘Crystal’ became his passion, the translucency and ability to “sculpt light” gave rise to wealth of new designs. His focus shifted from jewellery to decorative objects and large architectural and interior designs.

Many of his designs for crystal are still produced using the same techniques and to the same exceptional standard. You can buy Lalique at Gold Arts in Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne. 

René Lalique: artist and innovator gave the world a new interpretation of natural motifs. His use of colour, texture and sculptural form has left a legacy of appreciation for jewellery as an art form, not merely an expression of wealth.

The Lalique brand draws on this rich heritage producing exquisite jewellery for a worldwide clientele. Formulated into collections that use his famous motifs from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, Lalique jewellery is reworked and reinterpreted to suit the modern woman.

The Crystal used in modern Lalique jewellery is made using the same glass making techniques. The purity, exquisite colours and smooth tactile finish makes Lalique jewellery a joy to wear.

Gold Arts in Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne have been official stockists of Lalique for over 25 years.

Shop our beautiful Lalique jewellery online or visit our stores in Brighton, Chichester or Eastbourne.