Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Glass

In 1894, Paul Daum and a group of displaced industrialists opened the only glassworks in Nancy, France. Established during the French-Prussian War, the foundry’s original creations were necessities of the time, including medical and watch glass. Once Paul Daum’s artistic sons, Antonin and Auguste, took ownership of the glassworks during peacetime, the production of art objects began.

This miniature vase is a wonderful example of the firm’s mastery of Art Nouveau glass-making. Inspired by Emile Galle, the gold medal winning artist at the 1889 Parisian World’s Fair, the Daum brothers decided they would begin using many experimental artistic techniques in their own designs. The duo revolutionized the art glass industry by incorporating high-pigment powders, acid etching, cameo carving, and enameling into the composition of a single vessel; all which are executed in this vase.

All authentic Daum art glass is signed “Daum Nancy” accompanied by the cross of Lorraine. Daum glass was always a team effort and individual artists are usually not credited for their contributions. During the 1960s, the Daum firm began commissioning artists to produce special editions, including Salvador Dali. The Daum Glassworks is still in business today producing high-end crystal; however, through acquiring an original Daum Nancy Art Nouveau work, one is also acquiring a piece of French history.

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Gianni Cilfone- American Impressionist

Gianni Cilfone (Italian/American, 1908-1990)

Gianni Cilfone (1908-1990) was an Italian/American Post-War Impressionist. Like many of his contemporaries, he painted fast, capturing his impressions, using various colors and brushstrokes to create depth and lighting effects. Cilfone was schooled at the Art Institute of Chicago and painted expressive impressionistic landscape depictions in Brown County, Indiana (much like the image shown above) with the Hoosier Salon between 1949 and 1958. He exhibited at the North Shore Arts Association in Illinois, the Association of Chicago Painters and Sculptors, and at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1929. In addition to his exhibitions, he lectured and gave painting demonstrations throughout the Midwest. Cilfone’s style is a throw back to the past French masters twisted with expressive brush strokes and colors, highlighting familiar Midwest American landscapes. His style differs from that of the traditional landscape painters of his day such as Howard Hulsman (American, 20th Century) who painted with more organized lines and realistic depictions using blended colors and brushstrokes. His painting, Moonrise, illustrates a bright orange harvest moon, set high on the horizon overlooking hills and valleys of autumn trees. His use of warm colors contrasted with a mix of cool lavender and periwinkle add depth and visual persuasion, luring the eye inward.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.

IS THAT COPY WORTH ANYTHING?

If you have a student copy of an original and you think it is not worth anything, then you might be surprised to find yourself mistaken. In some instances appraisers have valued the copy over the original work it was based on due to the importance of the student who made it. Furthermore, even if you have a student copy created by an unknown it could be appraised in order to gather more information and then later sold at auction (or some other secondary market venue..) for more then you might think.



Madonna of the Chair; Raphael. 1518

Ref.: Madonna of the Chair; Appraised and Currently on Consignment at MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.

Copies vs. Forgeries

Copies are examples of a student artist attempting to master a technique through the work of his/her predecessors. Forgeries, on the other hand, are an attempt to make an exact replica of an object in order to fool collectors. This distinction is important because student artists bring something unique to their copies because they are not trying to create an exact likeness, and instead they are trying to learn a technique or style of painting. Therefore, each student copy has its own unique character completely distinct from the original.

The Value of a Copy

The differences found in a student copy make it more valuable then a poster or print of the original. Not only do owners of student copies have the opportunity to own a version of a masterpiece, as seen and possessed by the great museums of the world, they also own a completely unique work of art. This is because each student will bring their own individual style to the work. This is one of the reasons why appraisers find copies to be important and in many cases, valuable. Furthermore, some of the art world’s greatest masters began by learning about and copying the work of their predecessors. Their student copies are highly valued by appraisers because they are examples of the artist’s progression toward their own individual form of expression. In fact, these early studies often influence their later work. In some cases artists have borrowed significantly from their predecessors using the same subject matter and positioning, but they re-invent the image to express their own time and view point. In doing this artists create not only unique works, but entirely original pieces that can themselves become masterpieces. Thus, the student copy becomes a very desirable piece because it shows the artist’s development, as is demonstrated in Manet’s work, shown below:

Venus of Urbino; Titian. 1538

Ref.: Venus of Urbino; Manet. 1856

Olympia; Manet. 1863-65












Copies are often highly valued by appraisers for their insight into an artist’s development as well as being distinctly unique objects in their own right. This is why they should never be confused with the un-valuable forgery. If you have a copy and are unsure of its worth, then you should have it appraised because it might be worth more then you think.

- Anja Keppeler

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.