A unique crystal vase designed by Tamara Ralph - Daum brand

This impressive Magnum vase measures 58 cm in height and weighs 27 kg. Its original shape, reminiscent of a “mermaid” dress, references Haute Couture creations and elegant evening silhouettes. It embodies the fusion of Daum’s Secessionist DNA and the modern feminine universe of the designer.

This exceptional piece took nearly 500 hours of work. Crafted using the lost-wax technique, each vase spends over 17 days in the kilns before being carefully finished. The draping is extraordinary, capturing lightness, fluidity, and movement. The subtle blending of three shades of pink creates a unique color—delicately nuanced powder pink.

Daum is a brand of the highest quality craftsmanship combined with a passion for creating luxurious objects.

Discover the history

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

Few brands have collaborated with so many artists: over 140 years, more than 350 exceptional autographs have created an unparalleled legacy—a unique collection of this kind.

How can we translate these works into crystal sculptures? Here is Daum’s secret: a creator of extraordinary objects, highly educated workshop, a laboratory of wonders, and a designer of beautiful items.

Creation Methods

The crystal paste technique is rare and very old. It appeared as early as 5000 BC (found in the tombs of pharaohs). Long forgotten, it was rediscovered by Daum in 1900 and further developed in 1968. The process is extremely delicate. Products made by combining pieces of crystal in a mold are characterized by graininess, materiality, and soft contours that cannot be achieved with blown glass.

Daum’s specialty, copied but never matched—the crystal paste—is a precious material that gives the object a sculptural dimension and continues to evolve. Crystal paste has the unique property of imparting transparency to the shapes it reproduces. The shine, vibrant colors, and subdued shades of this material give it a distinctive character.

Crystal paste contains nearly 30% lead. It is produced from specially prepared crystal in kilns. Several factors influence the final color: weighing of materials, proportions of mixtures, chemical reactions of certain minerals and metals, temperature increase, and cooling of the kilns.

Thanks to the Daum-developed lost-wax casting method and the crystal mold technique, reproducing the original is perfect and faithful to the artist’s intent. Currently, Daum is the only manufacturer in the world capable of creating this exceptional material with such precision. Crystal paste is a substance that has evolved for over a century, adapting to the whims of master glassmakers’ imagination. It is through mastery and ongoing research that world-renowned masterpieces are born.