Lalique Vases

Acquiring his first Lalique vase in the 1970s, expatriate New Zealander Dr Jack C. Richards has amassed a collection of over 130 vases by the French designer Rene Lalique. Dating from 1913 to 1938, these vases reveal the sophistication of Lalique’s work as a designer, his delight in the design possibilities of the natural world, and his graceful transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco. While Richards acquired his collection overseas, it now resides in Gisborne, New Zealand. In this book, edited by Damian Skinner and with contributions by Carolyn Hatch and Jan and Simon Afford, Richards’ Lalique collection becomes the spur to explore an untold story about domestic taste and international decorative arts in New Zealand, as well as covering the story of Rene Lalique’s career as a designer, and the network of collectors who cherish Lalique’s glass as a major contribution to modern design.

Author Biography

Damian Skinner is an independent art historian and curator. His recent books include the co-authored Cone Ten Down: Studio Pottery in New Zealand, 1945-1980 (Bateman, 2009), which was a finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards in 2010, and The Passing World, The Passage of Life: John Hovell and the Art of Kowhaiwhai (Rim Books, 2010). He has written widely on aspects of New Zealand art history, including modernism, Maori art, and craft.