Maison Leune, artistry on glass

I wrote about Maison Leune some time ago but this beauty (just in and currently available to buy) seemed like a good reason to revisit it.  

Maison Leune is better known for enamelled vases, bonbonnieres and such like, while Leune Art Deco chandeliers are rare. This four piece light is characteristic of Auguste Heiligenstein (1891-1976), the important glass artist who transformed Leune’s output in the 1920s.

Leune’s business was decoration. They did not produce their own glass, instead buying in clear glass blanks from Daum, among others.

In the early 1900s, Leune had an atelier-showroom in Paris’ 5th arrondissement. The business later opened branches in Strasbourg, Lyon and Alger.

Initially, Leune’s craftsmen painted the glass with delicate naturalist landscapes in cold enamel and muted colours.

However, the rise of Art Deco called for something bolder and less romantic.

Enter Auguste Heiligenstein

In 1922, Leune hired Auguste Heiligenstein as its new artistic director and technical advisor. Heiligenstein had started out as an apprentice at Daum, later working at Baccarat and with Marcel Goupy. By the time he arrived at Leune, he was already known for his artistry and his mastery of enamel techniques.

Today you can see examples of his work in many of Europe’s best decorative arts museums – you may even see items from the Leune catalogue.

Heiligenstein brought a new brilliance to Leune in the 4 years he was there. 

He drew up new designs, and the artists at Leune reproduced them on glass. Cold enamelling gradually made way to vitrified enamels, opening up wonderful possibilities of colour and light.

The 1923 catalogue features many of these designs, including the iconic Martin-pêcheur (kingfisher) decor, which came in a range of shapes and sizes.

Other Leune signatures

Leune also went on to produce decorative glass under other signatures. These include “Etaleune”, seen on geometric pressed glass vases, and “Leunox”, signed on deep blue mould blown glass with electroplated decor.

Leunox pieces seem to have been produced in very limited numbers.

Epilogue

Maison Leune went the way of many French luxury companies. Hit by the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the company filed for bankruptcy before the year had even ended. And so the story ends… Or, almost 🙂