Stylish sculpture of a green snake – Daum company

In Chinese astrology, according to the theory of the Five Elements, the color green is associated with the Wood element. Each year of the Chinese zodiac is connected not only with an animal sign but also with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

The Wood element embodies growth, vitality, and expansion. In the Chinese horoscope, the green color symbolizes these qualities, as well as renewal, harmony, and prosperity. The snake's head turned upward represents aspirations, ambition, and the desire to achieve higher goals or spiritual enlightenment. The open mouth of the snake symbolizes communication, expression, and openness to contact with the outside world.

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

Discover the history

Daum, the legendary glassmaker who for over a century has maintained close relationships with the greatest artists of their 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 embraced every magical encounter 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 producer of extraordinary objects, with a highly skilled workshop, a laboratory of wonders, and a designer of beautiful items.

Creation methods

The pâte de cristal technique is rare and very ancient. This technique dates back to 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 created 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 signature, copied but never matched—the pâte de cristal—is a precious material that gives the object a sculptural dimension and continues to evolve. This crystal paste has the unique property of imparting transparency to the shapes it reproduces. The shine, vibrant colors, and subdued shades give it a distinctive character.

The pâte de cristal contains nearly 30% lead. The material is produced from specially prepared crystal in kilns. Several factors influence the final color: weighing the 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 technique, reproducing the original is perfect and aligns with the artist’s vision. Currently, Daum is the only manufacturer in the world capable of creating this exceptional material with such precision. The pâte de cristal is a substance that has evolved over more than a century, adapting to the whims of master glassmakers’ imagination. It is through mastery and continuous research that world-renowned masterpieces are born.