Marquetry Galle Vase
This technique was to be the crowning glory of Galle’s research. Also patented in April 1898, it consisted of inserting hot pieces of colored glass into the parison and embedding them so that they were flush with the surface by rolling on the marver. When annealed, the vessel could then be carved into it final design. The colored glass was cut to the shape required (a flower, a leaf or other subject) before insertion. Metallic foil was also sometimes placed below the inserted glass. This seemingly easy technique was made enormously difficult by the variation in coefficient of expansion of different batches of glass. Those used had to be carefully matched to expand and contract at the same rate during the multiple reheatings needed for each insertion, otherwise the vessel would crack. Not surprisingly, a vast number did crack during the process of manufacture, making those that have survived doubly precious.
