His avant-garde style soon captured the imaginations of the elite, not least the great actress Sarah Bernhardt, whose support – combined with a monumental triumph at the Paris Exposition of 1900 – catapulted him to global fame.  

Lalique was no stranger to glasswork, but it wasn’t until 1907, following a chance encounter with perfumer François Coty, that he began creating flacons – and his passion for the craft truly took form. He quickly diversified, designing vases, tableware and statuettes, before finally opening the Verrerie d’Alsace (Alsace Glassworks) in Wingen.  

Today, 100 years since the first furnace was ignited, the factory has doubled in size and some 250 artisans create between 350,000 and 400,000 pieces each year. Working hand-in-hand with acclaimed artists, architects and designers (including Zaha Hadid, Damien Hirst and Terry Rodgers), Lalique painstakingly creates its own moulds before glassmakers begin the hypnotising process of gathering, shaping, reheating and casting molten crystal.  
 
Then begins retouching, cutting, sculpting, engraving, sandblasting, polishing and painting. Each piece goes through as many as 40 steps, with standards so high that only 50 per cent of finished items make the cut.  
 
Thus, the founder’s spirit lives on. Historic designs are reimagined in new hues and sizes, and through the continued evolution of techniques, artist collaborations and new ventures in hospitality, food and wine, Lalique’s passion for sharing art has reached heights even he couldn’t have foreseen.