Rene Lalique 1933: Very Large "Coupe Ouverte" "Algues". 14 1/2". Signed. VVG.

Description

1933 was an interesting year for René Lalique, as he experimented with new designs bordering on geometric and futuristic styles. That year, he met Le Corbusier and Dutch painter Mondrian and he soon after came up with motifs far different from his previous fabrications, bowls  and plates such as "Actinia", Lignes" and "Annecy" among others.
Here is "Algues" (Algae), a very wide "Coupe Ouverte", 36 cm (14 1/2") in diametre, practically a large hollow serving dish, ideal to display fruit and also savouries etc... It is not even Lalique's widest creation among bowls (for lack of a better word) as the same "Algues" in "Coupe Plate" achieves an enormous 41 cm (16 1/2") in width.
The decor is unique, vast spreads of alguae very finely portrayed, especially as their thickness appears to vary. This is done through a very successful technique of shadows and reflections (Photos 6 and 7). The glass is opalescent with hues of Blue and, in a certain light, Yellow.
"Algae" is photographed and referenced in the big book by Felix Marcilhac, the unoficial "Lalique Bible", on page 308 of the 2010 French printing, under reference "10-389". The caption specifies that it was not continued after  the end of WW2. The signature, R LALIQUE FRANCE" is engraved on the base (photo 4).
The
condition is excellent, with no break, chip or anything missing. There is no damage or imperfection to report. Even more, and as it is well known that not all outputs of the same model are equal, this particular "coupe" has an extraordinary opalescence which reinforces Lalique's drawing. It is one of the very best I have ever seen.