René Lalique: refreshing glass

 Improbable Walks, Season 6, Episode 6: This episode focuses on a lovely detail in the grand streetscape of Paris: one specific address, designed by glass genius René Lalique. First, René Lalique himself photographed in 1905 by Aaron Gerschel. Next, an Art Nouveau necklace he created for Alice Ledru around 1897, before they married (the necklace is now in the MET, New York) Next, the building in question (difficult to get a good shot without either getting run over or falling into the Seine, so we're making do with a Wikipedia one here.) One of his famous series of "Poissons" vases ~1921 (these turn up occasionally at the great Puces in Paris; I am always tempted to sell all my possessions & get one.) Next, a close-up of the beautiful front door. Light fixtures now in the great dining room in the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (photo by RSSFSO) -- notice how the pinecones are thematically related to our Paris door (compare the close-up of the door, below) And finally, a leaping greyhound radiator cap from 1935, alongside a truly bonkers silver snake-covered sepia-colored glass sugar bowl from 1902 (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon). Personally, that would keep me from putting sugar in my coffee--maybe Lalique was in a dieting mood when he designed it?