A unique sculpture of an amber elephant by Jean-Francois Leroy

Daum is the highest quality craftsmanship combined with a passion for creating exclusive pieces.

Discover the history

Daum, the legendary master glassmaker who for over a century has maintained close relationships with the greatest artists of his time, giving their works a second life in crystal and color. From École de Nancy, Art Nouveau, to decorative arts, from Majorelle to Dalí, Arman, and Hilton McConnico, Daum has not missed any of the magical encounters between artistic creativity and modern knowledge, continually renewing the union of art and exceptional craftsmanship.

Few brands have collaborated with so many artists: over nearly 140 years, more than 350 unique autographs have created an unparalleled legacy, a one-of-a-kind 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 craftsmanship, a laboratory of wonders, a designer of incomparable items.

Creation Methods

The pâte de cristal 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 further developed in 1968. The process is extremely delicate. Items produced by combining pieces of crystal mixed in a mold are characterized by graininess, materiality, and soft contours, which cannot be achieved with blown glass.

Daum’s specialty, copied but never matched — pâte de cristal, a precious material that gives the object a sculptural dimension, continues to evolve. This crystal paste has the particular property of imparting transparency to the shapes it reproduces. The brilliance of this material, the intensity of colors, and subdued shades give it a unique character.

Pâte de cristal contains nearly 30% lead. The material is produced from specially prepared crystal in cauldrons. Several factors influence the final color effect: weighing of materials, mixture proportions, chemical reactions of certain minerals and metals, temperature rise, and cooling of the furnaces.

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