Step 1
Creating the model
Starting from sketches and drawings, the sculptor shapes the first model by hand from a lump of clay.
The volume, details, and expressions are refined to perfection with precision tools.
Exceptional know-how
From crystal... to crystal paste
140 years of excellent know-how.
From glass to crystal to pâte de verre, Daum has always known how to reinvent itself through innovation and creation. From a family history to a universal heritage, Daum transforms while maintaining the excellence of its know-how. " Pâte de verre " has become the House's identity since 1968; a lost-wax casting technique, unique to the crystal factory, and a historic setting, the city of Nancy, make this manufactory a must-see artisan workshop. Through a long and complex process of sculpting, lost-wax casting, and foundry work, culminating in the pâte de verre piece, the artisans of the manufactory write history through their mastery of materials and colors, using a palette of 40 shades. Moiré effects, translucent mineral or frosted matter—these subtle harmonies unique to Daum's pâte de verre objects are the secret of a completely artisanal creation process, passed down from generation to generation. A name to describe a family history, of men and women, of know-how, of materials and time: Daum, one of the finest French crystal makers, has become a living heritage in 140 years of creation.
A Daum specialty, copied but never equaled, crystal paste—a precious material that gives the object a sculptural dimension—has continued to evolve. Crystal paste has the unique characteristic of adding translucency to the forms it reproduces. The brilliance of this material, the intensity of its colors, and its shaded tones give it its unique character. Crystal paste contains nearly 30% lead. The material is created from specially manufactured crystal in pots. Several factors influence the final color result: the weighing of materials, the proportions of the mixtures, the chemical reactions of certain minerals and metals, the temperature rise, and the cooling of the kilns.
Know-how THE STEPS
Step 2
Model casting
Once this first sculpture is completed, it is used to produce a negative mold made of elastomer.
This material, used in liquid form, allows for the faithful reproduction of the smallest details of the sculpture. It remains flexible after drying, which allows for the creation of a hollow mold that replicates the original sculpture.
Step 3
Wax reproduction
Once the original sculpture has been removed, hot wax is poured into the hollow mold.
Once the wax cools and hardens, the piece is removed from the mold and reworked to obtain a perfect reproduction of the original.
Step 4
A perfect and unique reproduction.
This know-how is unique thanks to the lost-wax casting technique: the wax model is submerged in refractory plaster and placed in an oven. Under the effect of heat, the wax melts and flows out through a previously arranged evacuation channel. The wax is then said to be "lost".
This is how the final mold for the crystal piece is obtained. This mold is therefore unique to each piece.
Step 5
Filling the mold with the crystal
Once the wax has been removed, it's time for the crystal to take its place. These pieces of crystal are also called "groisils". The groisils of different colors and sizes are positioned in pots above the mold before firing so that the pieces of crystal, under the effect of heat, melt and fill it.
The oven heats up to 900 degrees, and a piece may require up to 21 days of firing.
Step 6
Demolding and finishing of the sculpture
Once cooled, the plaster mold is carefully broken by hand, revealing the crystal paste sculpture. The craftsmen in the cold workshop provide the necessary polishing and material combinations for the piece.
The finishing operations still need to be carried out.
Step 7
Finishing and signature
After the finishing operations, quality control and color distribution are carried out. The piece is then ready to receive its final touch: the Daum signature. The process must be repeated for each copy of the piece.
Each piece is unique and signed by the crystal factory for better authentication and traceability.
Step 8
Final piece
You can admire the exceptional color combinations, as well as the finely crafted sculptural details, which are characteristic of the House.
Thanks to this unique know-how, every Daum piece upholds the brand's impeccable reputation and promotes its name.
From the Nancy School, Art Nouveau to the Decorative Arts, from Majorelle to Dali, Arman and Hilton McConnico, Daum has not missed a single magical encounter of artistic creation and modern know-how, this ever-renewed marriage of art and craftsmanship. Few brands have worked with so many artists: in almost 140 years, more than 350 exceptional signatures constitute an incomparable heritage, a unique collection of its kind.