Pierre d’Avesn – French Art Deco Glass Designer
Pierre d’Avesn was an important French glass artist and designer of the 20th century. He was born in 1901 under the name Pierre Girre. Some sources also use the spelling Pierre Gire. Under the artistic name Pierre d’Avesn, he designed vases, bowls, lamps and decorative glass objects.
His work is distinguished by elegant shapes, sculptural reliefs and excellent craftsmanship. In particular, he became known for his designs in moulded, opalescent and coloured glass. Today, his creations are highly sought-after examples of French Art Deco glass.
Early Years with René Lalique
Pierre d’Avesn began his professional career with René Lalique at the age of about 14. There, he learned both the artistic and technical aspects of working with fine glass.
He worked for Lalique for around ten years. During this period, he gained valuable experience in developing models and moulds for the production of decorative glass. Several well-known Lalique designs, including the “Serpents” and “Tourbillons” vases, are attributed to Pierre d’Avesn.
His work for René Lalique had a lasting influence on his style. Nevertheless, Pierre d’Avesn soon developed his own distinctive artistic language. It was powerful and sculptural, yet defined by the refined elegance of French Art Deco.
His Own Designs and the Cristallerie de Saint-Rémy
Around 1926, Pierre d’Avesn left the Lalique company and began working as an independent designer. He had many of his models produced by the Cristallerie de Saint-Rémy.
During this period, he created numerous vases, bowls and decorative objects. Many of these works bear the signature “P. d’Avesn”. Today, this signature helps collectors and specialists identify his work. However, not all of his designs were marked with his name.
Pierre d’Avesn and Daum Frères
Around 1930, Pierre d’Avesn took on a leading artistic role at Daum Frères. He worked at the company’s glassworks in Croismare near Lunéville. There, he contributed to the development of a new range of high-quality moulded glass.
The objects produced at the glassworks were sold under several names. These included “Lorrain”, “Val” and “Verreries de Belle-Étoile”. However, Pierre d’Avesn was permitted to sign some of his most important designs with his own name.
His works from this period combine geometric forms with strongly modelled relief decoration. They often feature stylised flowers, leaves, birds, fish and other animals. Frosted and transparent surfaces create a lively interplay of light and shadow.
His Work for Verlys
After leaving Daum, Pierre d’Avesn joined Verlys, an important French glass manufacturer based in Les Andelys. From approximately 1937 to 1940, he directed the company’s artistic department.
Verlys was particularly well known for decorative moulded and opalescent glass. Pierre d’Avesn created numerous elegant models for the manufacturer. His designs often feature highly stylised natural motifs with distinctly sculptural surfaces.
His work for Verlys ended at the beginning of the Second World War. Pierre d’Avesn subsequently returned to independent work. He had several of his designs produced by the Cristallerie de Choisy-le-Roi.
Later Work
After the Second World War, Pierre d’Avesn continued his career as a glass designer. He later worked for the glass manufacturer Vannes-le-Châtel. There, he created new designs and also reused some earlier models.
His long career extended across several decades. During this time, he was associated with some of the most important names in French glassmaking: René Lalique, Daum Frères, Verlys, Choisy-le-Roi and Vannes-le-Châtel.
Pierre d’Avesn died in 1990.
Style and Distinctive Features
The glass designs of Pierre d’Avesn combine the elegance of Art Deco with a strong sculptural quality. Typical features include bold reliefs, symmetrical shapes and decorative motifs inspired by nature.
His preferred motifs include:
- stylised flowers and leaves
- birds, fish and gazelles
- geometric ornaments
- female figures
- textured and frosted surfaces
The combination of transparent, satin-finished and opalescent glass is particularly attractive. Depending on the light, the appearance and visual depth of the decoration can change considerably.
Signatures and Attributions
Authentic works may be signed “P. d’Avesn”, “d’Avesn” or “P. d’Avesn France”. However, other designs were sold under the names of the glass manufacturers that produced them.
Therefore, the absence of a signature does not necessarily rule out his authorship. The shape, quality of the glass, production technique and decoration should also be examined. Historic sales catalogues and known model numbers can provide additional information.
His Importance for French Art Glass
Alongside René Lalique and Marius-Ernest Sabino, Pierre d’Avesn is considered one of the notable designers of French moulded glass. His work helped make artistically designed glass objects accessible to a wider public.
His creations combine artistic ambition with modern manufacturing techniques. As a result, they are excellent examples of French glass design from the 1920s and 1930s.
Original glass objects by Pierre d’Avesn are now collected internationally. Rare vases, opalescent bowls, animal figures and well-preserved signed pieces from the Art Deco period are particularly desirable.
