The French crystal art House celebrates the beauty of the hive, reimagining one of its most iconic motifs
Daum introduces Or d’Abeille – a collection inspired by the bee, the honeycomb, and the daisy, brought to life through the intricate pâte de cristal technique. The master artisans at Daum have been engaged in a dialogue about the majesty of nature almost since the manufactory’s inception in Nancy in 1878. The bee reigns as the winged queen of Daum’s crystal gardens, a radiant emblem of the House's creativity and inspiration. A messenger of light and a tireless worker, the bee has graced the French brand’s collections since 1901. Its image embodies an admiration for nature's harmony, generosity, and abundance – qualities that resonate within Daum’s exquisite sculptural compositions. Or d'Abeille, translating from French as "bee's gold", is a contemporary ode to this queen of the crystal realms.
Reinterpreting the historic heritage of the House through a fresh, modern lens, the designers seamlessly weave the artistic codes of Art Nouveau and Art Deco into the visual aesthetic of these pieces. Daum’s illustrious legacy – which has garnered global acclaim for its unparalleled craftsmanship and innovative mastery of materials, where color, light, and form fuse into a unified entity – harmonizes perfectly with the current creative vision.
The magnificent magnum vase, drawing inspiration from the beehive and a floral bouquet, is presented as a limited edition of 99 pieces. The creation of this monumental masterpiece demanded 755 hours of meticulous craftsmanship from the manufactory's artisans. The fluid lines of the vase set off the floral reliefs, while golden bees nestle among the petals, infusing the narrative with life and spirit. The delicate interplay of hues evokes the tenderness of the dawn sky and the glimmers of morning sunlight on a summer meadow.
The large vase commands attention with its geometric silhouette and bold contours, a nod to the Art Deco architecture of the 1920s, while the floral and honeycomb motifs echo the Art Nouveau aesthetics of the early 20th century. This thoughtful dialogue between the two artistic movements has become the hallmark of the House of Daum. It took the artisans in Nancy over 310 hours to create this piece. The color palette, masterfully curated in hues ranging from honey-orange to blossom-pink, conjures the warm, sunlit essence of nectar and petals. At the very heart of this composition rests a gilded bee, adorned by hand in gold leaf, like a precious crest. This vase stands as a masterclass in the synthesis of heritage and innovation, geometry and poetry.
Like a hymn to awakening nature, the large vase displays its graceful curves in a subtle gradient that transitions from soft blush pink to sunny orange, evoking the first rays of a summer morning. Every etched detail is deeply symbolic, from the geometric hexagons depicting a honeycomb to the bouquet of daisies sheltering elegantly concealed bees. Three gilded bees, adorned by hand in precious gold leaf, crown this floral masterpiece.
The small Or d’Abeille vase draws its inspiration from a honey vessel embraced by a delicate bouquet. It required the masters 283 hours to create this composition. This exquisite arrangement celebrates the simple yet invaluable joys of nature – the sweetness of honey, the purity of flower petals, and the gentle hum of a foraging bee. Every detail tells a tale of profound harmony and serenity.
The Or d’Abeille decorative bowl is modeled after a blossom unfolding in all its captivating, natural splendor. Its delicate and tender palette sweeps from pastel pink to golden orange, while the translucent texture casts a mesmerizing effect of a light, warm glow. This decorative piece serves as a poetic ode to nature's bounty. Its textured, amber-hued heart evokes the precious nectar that beckons the bees. A tiny bee resting on the edge of a petal strikes a flawlessly pitched note in the melody of natural harmony. The artistry of the French craftsmen represents a kind of offering to nature – a testament of human gratitude for its beauty, fertility, and abundance. It is this particular crystal sculpture that most consummately encapsulates the spirit and aesthetic essence of the Or d'Abeille collection: contemplation, tenderness, and an admiration for nature's gifts.
Harmony, elegance, and a uniquely radiant warmth reign supreme within Daum's crystalline realm, captivating both the eye and the heart. The beauty of flora and fauna is unveiled in these decorative objets d'art, shaped by the sensitive hands of French artisans. These refined compositions seemingly crystallize and immortalize the images of nature's perfection, the contemplation of which restores the observer's inner harmony.
The golden heart of each flower serves as a reminder of nectar, solar warmth, and nature's generosity. The sculptural floral centerpieces of the Or d'Abeille collection transcend mere table decor; they imbue any living space with an elevated, delicate, and warm ambiance. The bee stands as the royal ruler of this exquisite natural domain and the treasured emblem of Daum – a symbol of poetry embodied in crystal.
Crafting each piece by hand using the highly intricate pâte de cristal technique requires several hundred hours of labor. The term "crystal paste" encompasses a meticulous and highly refined process: the lost-wax casting method, which enables the creation of masterpieces with a rich spectrum of hues, distinctive translucency, and texture. These sculptural compositions elevate themselves to the status of fine objets d'art, showcasing an unparalleled level of artisanal mastery. The brand's history boasts over 350 collaborations with some of the most prominent artists and designers of our time, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, Arman, and Philippe Starck.
The Daum Or d’Abeille collection is available at the Ambiance boutique, located at 5A, 28 May Street. Contact phone: +994 (12) 498-62-94
The official distributor of the brand in Azerbaijan is ITALDIZAIN. Further details regarding Daum and its collections can be found at: https://italdizain.az/az/brands/daum.