Sculpture of Alcyone by Dominique Vial

Daum is a brand synonymous with high-quality craftsmanship combined with a passion for creating exclusive items.

Discover the history

Daum, the legendary master of glassmaking, has maintained close relationships with the greatest artists of their times for over a century, giving their works a second life in crystal and colour. From École de Nancy, through Art Nouveau to decorative arts, from Majorelle to Dalí, Arman, and Hilton McConnico, Daum has never missed any magical encounters of artistic creativity with modern knowledge, continually renewing the marriage of art and true craftsmanship.

Few brands have collaborated with so many artists: for nearly 140 years, over 350 unique signatures have created an unparalleled legacy, a unique collection of its kind.

How can we translate these works into crystal sculptures? This is the secret of Daum, the creator of exceptional items, a highly educated workshop, a laboratory of wonders, a designer of unmatched objects.

Creation methods

The pâte de verre technique is rare and very ancient. This technique appeared as early as 5000 BC (found in the tombs of pharaohs). Long forgotten, it was rediscovered by Daum in 1900 and then reworked in 1968. This process is extremely delicate. The products obtained by combining pieces of crystal mixed in a mould are characterised by a graininess, material, and softness of contours that cannot be achieved with blown glass.

A speciality of the Daum brand, copied but never equalled, pâte de verre, a precious material giving the object a sculptural dimension, is continually evolving. Pâte de verre has the particular property of giving the shapes it reproduces transparency. The brilliance of this material, the intensity of its colours, and the muted shades give it a unique character.

Pâte de verre contains almost 30% lead. The material is made from specially crafted crystal in pots. Several factors influence the final colour effect: the weighing of materials, the proportions of mixtures, the chemical reactions of certain minerals and metals, the rise in temperature, and the cooling of the kilns.

Thanks to crystal casting and the lost wax casting method developed by Daum, the reproduction of the original is perfect and in accordance with the artist's wishes. Today, Daum is the only crystal manufacturer in the world capable of creating this unique material with such perfect precision. Pâte de verre is a substance that has evolved over more than a century and adapts to the whims of the imagination of master glassmakers. It is through mastery and continuous research that world-renowned masterpieces are born.