Modern Morris: General Rules for Conversation
- Vanserai, Ltd. Co.
- Aug 31, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 12, 2022
Fall Edit 2022 Blog #2
“There is no surer sign of vulgarity than the perpetuated boasting of the fine things you have at home. If you speak of your silver or fine jewels, of your costly apparel, it will be taken for a sign that you are either lying, or that you were, not long ago, somebody’s washerwoman, and cannot forget to be reminding everyone that you are not so now.”
Martine, Arthur. “General Rules For Conversation.” 1886. Martine’s Hand-Book of Etiquette and Guide to True Politeness, Applewood Books, 2006, pp. 26–27.
It would be a mistake to think that guests will not ask about the provenance of interesting objets d'art in your home. While Mr. Martine is quite clear that one should not speak with offensive boastfulness, pieces with more intriguing makers or backgrounds generate easy and engaging conversation. Our miniature Degué vase is an excellent example -
This miniature 1920s French Degué vase features a three color cameo landscape design depicting a small house and Cathedral in the distance. Composed of translucent layers of colorless glass, the internal swirls of cobalt blue, powder blue and blushed pink can be seen at the base.
So, when someone sees this lovely vase and asks, “What is Degué?”, you can answer:
Following the 1925 “Exposition des Arts Decoratifs” in Paris, glassmaker David Guéron (1892 – 1950) set up his glassworks in Compiègne, about 50 miles northeast of Paris, to produce tableware and other functional glass. Within a single year Guéron had moved into the more lucrative production of what he would call “Degué” French Art Glass.
He opened Verrerie d’Art Degué in Paris, a glassworks at Boulevard Malesherbes where his exquisite cameo glass designs leaned heavily toward natural motifs and brilliant colors. These extravagant works were rarely seen outside the homes of American and French collectors, but these lovely creations influenced the taste and fashions of the day through their appearance in exhibitions and magazines of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
The vivid color, scenic design and the signature in the cameo suggest this vase was made in the late 1920s- early 1930s; The glassware made after 1930 was still decorative but significantly more subdued in response to the Great Depression. The landscape cameo scenes were not as common the floral designs, but the majority of these scenic glassworks were produced from the 1928-1931.
Despite his incredible designs, towards the end of his career Guéron was best known for copying the floral and geometric Art Deco designs of Charles Schneider and Muller Frères. The ensuing legal battle in 1932 saw his company on the brink of financial collapse during the Great Depression. Degué glassworks was officially closed in 1939 at the outbreak of WWII.
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