Legras & Cie
Legras & Cie was a French glass manufactory, one of the leading firms of the Art Nouveau period. It was founded in 1864 by Auguste-Jean-François Legras in the commune of Saint-Denis near Paris.
Legras & Cie was a French glassworks and one of the leading producers of Art Nouveau glass. Founded in 1864 by Auguste-Jean-François Legras in Saint-Denis, near Paris, the company initially manufactured domestic and tableware glass.
From the 1880s onward, influenced by the success of Émile Gallé, Legras & Cie turned its focus to art glass, producing acid-etched cameo vases and multi-layered Art Nouveau pieces. This effect was achieved through acid etching using acid-resistant reserving agents, followed by the hand-finishing of the ornamentation.
Signature motifs included landscapes (lakes, mountains, forests, and rustic scenes), flowers (poppies, irises, and chrysanthemums), and leafy branches. The firm utilized a broad palette, ranging from muted pearl-gray tones to deep orange, red, and purple shades.
The manufactory operated under the direction of the Legras family until 1914. It subsequently went through a succession of owners and, during the 1920s, was integrated into the Verreries de Saint-Denis et de Pantin Réunies group. The production of art glass was phased out by the late 1920s.
Pieces bearing the signatures "Legras," "Montjoye" (the luxury line), and more rarely "Mont Joye & Cie" are represented in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Musée de l'École de Nancy, the Corning Museum of Glass, and private collections worldwide.