Lalique has been a household name since 1925, when the creations of its founder, René Lalique, delighted spectators at the 1925 Exposition des Arts Decoratifs, the Paris trade show that gave Art Deco its name. Cheffins, one of the United Kingdom’s leading firms of independent auctioneers and valuers will display 54 antique Lalique glass pieces in its Cambridge showroom on the 10 May.
The pieces on display are coming from a single-owner collection, with an estimated total value of £45,000 to £65,000. One example from the collection is a Madagascar plafonier, which has an estimate of £4,000-£6,000. There is also a beautiful Archers patterned glass vase, starting at £2,000. Lalique made a name for himself with this kind of pieces combining mould and blown methods in a variety of different finishes.
Lalique is a well-established brand, with luxury boutiques all over the world. This means that there is strong international demand for older items, fuelled by a devoted international collectors community. While the prices peaked in the early 1990s and dropped afterwards, there has been a resurgence of interest in recent years as shown by several record prices at public auctions.
Before you go hit the sale, here is one piece of advice from Martin Millard, Director, Cheffins: “The range of patterns from Lalique have been less susceptible to the whims of fashion than the colours or finishes, however, the general rule is that opalescent or coloured pieces are more highly-prized than clear or frosted glass examples.”