Eternal Spring

Throughout Austin, purple irises are bursting into bloom, signaling the coming of spring.

However, you can bring an eternal spring into your home with this ever-blooming iris trinket dish or bowl from the French maker of Daum. The dish is created by an intricate and detailed process called pâte de verre (glass paste). Although dating back to ancient Rome and Egypt, the process of pâte de verre was perfected in France during the art nouveau era of the early 1900s. Currently, Daum is the only crystal manufacturer still using this technique. The technique, which uses finely ground crystal called "frit," produces a luminous crystal sculpture with sharp details and soft gradations of precisely placed colors.

The process requires multiple steps by skilled artisans. First, a sculpture is created and used to make a flexible mold. The mold is then filled with molten wax.  After the wax hardens, it is removed from the mold and any imperfections are smoothed over. The wax is then encased in plaster. One the plaster is dry, it is heated and the melted wax is drained from the mold. This leaves a plaster mold, which is then cut open.  The plaster impression is cleaned of residue and the frit packed into the mold, with the artisan carefully layering the different colors. Once filled, the plaster mold is placed into a kiln and heated until the frit has melted. The plaster mold is removed from the kiln and allowed to cool. Because the crystal now adheres to the mold, the plaster must be carefully broken away to reveal the sculpture. The remaining plaster is washed away and the crystal piece is polished, with details sometimes sharpened by hand with a special drill. Only after all these steps are complete and the piece passes a final inspection will it be signed "Daum France." This complex pâte de verre process means that every Daum sculpture is unique.

This beautiful bowl comes in its original fitted Daum box.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16049-108