Daum Nancy "Algues et Poissons" Enamel and Cameo Glass Vase

Created in 1898, Daum Nancy’s Algues et Poissons (“Algae and Fish”) vase transforms layered crystal into a luminous underwater world. Sea-green glass frit, trapped air bubbles, reddish-brown algae inclusions, gold leaf, acid etching, enamel decoration, and wheel-carved striations create extraordinary depth and movement. The scene features Japanese yellowtail (hamachi), white crucian carp (funa), tilefish (shiro-amadai), largehead hairtail (tachiuo), a hermit crab, and various seaweeds, including feather boa kelp, dillisk, serrated wrack, and red algae. Through transparency, refraction, and layered construction, Daum creates the illusion of fish and vegetation suspended at different depths within a three-dimensional aquatic environment.