Émile GALLÉ (1846-1904)
"Heart of Mary
Talking glassware
Water-green blown glass bottle with grooved conical body on ringed pedestal and stopper with ringed heart-shaped body at bottom. Decorated with "dicentra spectabilis" entirely enhanced with polychrome enamels and a quotation on the reverse from Victor Hugo: "Je n'ai pas d'autre affaire ici-bas que d'aimer" ("I have no other business here below than to love").
Signed in gold in the decoration.
H: 19 cm
History: The quotation is taken from Victor Hugo's 1877 poem "L'Art d'être grand-père".
Bibliography: catalog of the June 2, 1989 sale directed by Maitres Yves Rabourin & Olivier Choppin de Janvry, collection from one of Émile Gallé's collaborators, p. 21 for lot 62.
