Cavalcade, the excellence of the craft in the workshops of Maison Daum
This majestic and untamed animal has become, over the decades, an emblematic figure in his artistic universe. Since 2014, the Cavalcade collection has paid homage to this free and elegant power, giving rise to a series of works crafted in the vibrant brilliance of crystal. A true declaration of love for the equestrian world, Cavalcade captures the suspended moment of movement, the tension of a muscle, the lightness of a mane in the wind. Here, the horse becomes more than a motif: it is movement incarnate, a symbol of nobility, freedom, and inner strength.
Each creation in the Cavalcade collection is a scene, almost a breath, frozen in the living material of crystal paste. In the Nancy workshop, the crystal artisans perpetuate a rare and meticulous savoir-faire, inherited over centuries and refined by the mastery of the lost-wax casting technique. From a simple sketch, they give birth to sculptures of unparalleled finesse, where emotion shines through in every curve, every contour, every pose. The crystal, worked with precision, reveals an inimitable palette of colors (from deep ambers to bluish grays, including golden reflections) that vary with the light and enhance the forms. These tones are the result of a complex alchemy, unique to the House of Daum, which plays with density, oxides, and temperatures to give each piece its unique character.
The many faces of Cavalcade, between decorative work and narrative sculpture
While the vase remains the Maison's signature piece, Cavalcade goes far beyond mere decoration. It encompasses works that blur the lines between sculpture, design, and lifestyle. Some creations become spectacular centerpieces or striking objects with bold lines, while others are offered as rare desk accessories, such as this numbered edition pencil holder, a fusion of functionality and aesthetics. Each piece retains the spirit of the horse, but offers a fresh interpretation: sometimes in the momentum of a leap, sometimes in the restraint of an attentive posture, sometimes in the fluid grace of a dance step.
Cavalcade, a collection in perpetual artistic evolution
Daum's equestrian menagerie has grown richer over the years. In 2020, a sculpture of two dancing horses, united in an aerial ballet, illustrates a choreography that is both enchanting and powerful. In 2023, the Maison unveiled a masterful chess set: pieces in patinated crystal, a leather-covered board, and smoky hues with gold and bronze accents. Here, each knight becomes a sculpture, each pawn, a fragment of the universe. The game transforms into a theater of forms and light, where strategy is complemented by refined visual pleasure.
Cavalcade, an ode to life carried by light
Cavalcade is not simply a collection: it is a manifesto of the intimate relationship between matter and movement, between the artisan's hand and the animal's spirit. It evokes the deep roots of a house that, for over a century, has boldly explored the possibilities of crystal, in constant dialogue with artists and the forms of living things. Through it, Maison Daum not only captures the beauty of the horse: it conveys its truth. For, as an old proverb says, the air of paradise blows between a horse's ears. It is this air that Cavalcade attempts, with grace and light, to resonate within our homes.
