A Guide to Lalique Crystal: Iconic Designs and Where to Begin

Lalique is the French crystal house founded by René Lalique in 1888, and its crystal is still made in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace. Our Crystal Guide explains what crystal is and how Lalique's molded, frosted technique differs from Daum and William Yeoward. This post is the companion piece: the Lalique designs worth knowing, and how to choose your first one.

Paris Tableware & Gifts, a store in Ridgewood, New Jersey, carries Lalique crystal vases, bowls, sculptures and ornaments and ships them across the continental US, with free shipping on orders over $150.

What to Look For: Satin and Polished Crystal

The signature of Lalique is contrast. Part of each piece is satin-finished (frosted) and part is polished clear, so the design seems to glow where the two meet. Many vases are offered in several sizes, from small to grand and XXL, and some come in colored crystal or with gold luster.

The Icons

Lalique Bacchantes Vase

A 1927 René Lalique masterpiece: a ring of the young priestesses of Bacchus wrapped around the vase. We have it in clear crystal (small) and in gold luster, small or large – the large stands 24 cm (about 9.5 in) high.

Lalique Bacchantes Bowl

The same famous motif as a crystal bowl – a gentler starting point than the vase.

Lalique Merles et Raisins Bowl

Blackbirds and grapes ("merles et raisins") in hand-finished crystal, with satin and polished contrasts. See all Lalique bowls.

Nature in Crystal

Lalique Plumes Vase

Inspired by the feathers and radiant color of the Amazon parrot, in green or clear crystal, small (5.79 in) or medium (10.43 in).

Lalique Panther Vase

Panthers in black and white, rendered in light and shadow – 7.87 in high, in black crystal or clear crystal.

Lalique Zeila Panther Small Sculpture

Lalique's panther as a crystal sculpture, beautifully boxed. More animals and figures in Lalique sculptures.

Modern Shapes

Not every Lalique piece is figurative. Some of the house's vases are built on swirling or flowing forms and come in a whole family of sizes, so you can start small and add.

Lalique Tourbillons Vase

A crystal vase offered in three sizes – the small vase, this standard size and an XXL vase.

Lalique Alizé Vase

Available as small, standard, large and XXL vases, with some sizes also made with pink gold leaves.

A First Piece of Lalique

An ornament is the most affordable way to own Lalique crystal, and it comes out every December for decades. See all Lalique ornaments.

Lalique Lierre Ornament

Intertwined ivy leaves in clear crystal that catch the light on the tree, handcrafted in France.

Lalique Frost Christmas Ornament

A hand-finished crystal ornament, beautifully boxed – an easy gift for a host or a first Christmas together.

How to Choose

• Start with the motif you love – women, animals, birds and grapes, feathers or abstract swirls. That decides more than size.
• Think about light. Lalique looks its best near a window or under a lamp, where the satin and clear crystal play off each other.
• Size for the room. A small vase suits a side table; a grand or XXL vase holds a whole console on its own.
• Care is simple: wash by hand in lukewarm water with a little mild soap and dry with a soft cloth – our Crystal Guide has the details.

Save your favorites: open any piece and tap the ♡ to add it to your Wishlist, then send the list to whoever is planning your next anniversary.

See every vase in our Lalique vases collection, or browse all of Lalique.