Emile Gallé bowl for Belgian company Solvay et Cie to mark the 30th anniversary of its factory in Dombasle, estimate €60,000-70,000 at Dr Fischer.
The Belgian chemist and industrialist Ernest Solvay had developed the process named after him that enabled an economical way of retrieving soda from salt brine and limestone to produce sodium-carbonate or soda.
Gallé’s bowl is appropriately titled Larmes de soude (Tears of soda). The marbling of the irregularly blown vessel on its stepped round base represents the earth, while ribbons of frothy clear glass, the streams or ‘tears’ of soda are applied to the sides.
Several versions of this rare bowl are known, some in museums.
This example, which is being sold by specialist glass auction house Dr Fischer in Heilbronn in its 300th auction on March 9, comes from a German collector and is guided at €60,000-70,000.
