Rene Lalique and French modernism in Canada.

Rene Lalique was one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century. He began his career as a sculptor and designer of unique pieces of jewelry. He then became a designer and manufacturer of art glass for the consumer market. His life parallels the evolution of the French modern movement, when designers shifted from handcrafted goods to the mass-producing economy that was emerging in Europe and the United States. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, modernism encompassed the art nouveau and art deco styles, which continued into the late 1930s. Lalique's skill at mastering each style and medium he set his hand to and his great imaginative and artistic range laid the foundation for his graceful transition from art nouveau to art deco. However, it was Lalique's willingness to embrace the machine, his sophisticated knowledge of production methods, and his business acumen that assured his reputation.

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The significance of Lalique's designs is widely acknowledged in a European context, but his impact in North America has not been explored in depth. The French modern movement began to gain momentum in Canada during the 1920s, and after the seminal Exposition internationale des arts decoratifs et industriels modernes in Paris in 1925, Lalique glass was imported and sold by at least five Canadian retail firms, including the major department stores T. Eaton Company and the Robert Simpson Company. Lalique's wares and other French decorative arts were displayed as art objects in lavish room settings (see Fig. 7). They were advertised in home design magazines, newspapers, and retail sales catalogues. An ambitious marketing campaign was initiated by Lalique's son Marc (1900-1977), who joined the company in 1922 and emphasized international markets, particularly in North America.