Welcome, June, and your beloved birth flower, the Rose.
Throughout the world, roses are probably the most popular of all flowering plants. Members of the Rosaceae family, they were native to Asia, though a few species developed in Europe, North America and parts of Africa. Over the centuries, tens of thousands of cultivars and hybrids have been developed by mankind. Today's most common "garden variety" roses are descendants of Chinese roses, brought to the West by traders in the 1700's.
The botanical importance of roses is exceeded by their cultural, historical, emotional, mythological and romantic associations. The colors of roses have become associated with different types of feelings: red roses indicate love and sexual passion; white conveys purity and innocence; yellow represents joy and friendship; and pink is associated with grace and innocent affection. The Greek goddess, Aphrodite, is associated with roses, as is the Virgin Mary. And the painful prick of a rose's thorn stands in poetic contrast to the visual and olfactory beauty of the flower.
The Latin phrase, sub rosa ("Under the Rose"), refers to a conversation which is expected to be held in strict confidence. Conversations which occur beneath a hanging bundle of roses were intended to be secret. Ancient mythology tells us that Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates (the god of silence) to ensure that he did not divulge Venus's indiscretions. Roses were hung from (or painted on) the ceilings of Medieval European council chambers. And a rose was sometimes carved above the door of church confessionals—a reminder that everything discussed within would forever remain sub rosa.
The frosted crystal "rose mound" paperweight, shown above, was made by Lalique in France. René Lalique (1860-1945) trained as a jeweler, apprenticing and working for some of the finest Parisian jewelers. He also pursued glassmaking and the production of artistic medals. In 1887, he opened a jewelry shop in Paris and in 1888, he registered the trade name R. LALIQUE. Soon, Lalique was amongst the finest purveyors of French Art Nouveau jewelry. But his interest in glassmaking continued: Lalique began to produce glass items at his country estate.
In 1905, Lalique opened a new shop on the Place Vendôme—a combination of his jewelry and his glass objets. Two years later, a neighboring merchant, perfumiere François Coty, commissioned Lalique to produce some fancy bottles for his fragrances. Business grew and, by 1909, Lalique opened a proper glass-making workshop.
Lalique later was commissioned to design interior spaces featuring his signature sculpted glass works. With his daughter, Suzanne Lalique (a set and costume designer), René Lalique produced interiors for elegant luxury ships, carriages on the Orient Express, hotels around the world, Art Deco office buildings and churches.
René Lalique died in 1945 and is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. His son, Marc, took-over the business and (in 1950) transitioned the company from the production of glass to the production of leaded glass (commonly called crystal).
The sweet, crystal paperweight, shown above, was made in the 1980's or 1990's. A mound of roses become a bouquet of roses—just about to open. The crystal is lightly "frosted," providing a handsome "high-low" affect which accentuates the sculptural beauty of the piece. The signature, R. LALIQUE, is marked on the bottom of the piece (which can be viewed in just the right angle of light). Click on the photo above to learn more about this lovely piece.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.