Antonio Mcgowan
The Lalique glass perfume bottles designed by René Jules Lalique are highly sought-after collectibles. Lalique founded his company in 1885, and his beautiful jewellery designs and stunning glasswork contributed significantly to the Art Nouveau movement. His glass creations are still coveted by modern collectors. However, with such high demand, there is a significant market for fakes and forgeries. This has resulted in a need to authenticate Lalique pieces, especially perfume bottles, by verifying specific markings. This includes understanding the differences between pre-and post-1945 markings, as well as identifying forged marks that use words like Paris or Made in France, which rarely appear on authentic Lalique pieces.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of markings | Raised molded mark, engraved mark, etched mark, wheel-cut mark |
| Markings on pre-1945 bottles | Raised molded mark, engraved mark, etched mark, wheel-cut mark |
| Markings on bottles sold empty before 1945 | Raised molded mark, engraved mark, or both |
| Authenticity | Forged marks may include the words "Paris" or "Made in France"; authentic marks rarely exceed one-quarter inch in height |
| Exceptions | Some modern pieces have the molded "R" signature due to the use of old pre-war molds; post-war marks omit the "R" |
| Common forgeries | Forgeries may be made of Czech glass or French glass from the 1920s |
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What You'll Learn
Authentic marks rarely exceed a quarter-inch in height
Authentic Rene Lalique glass perfume bottles are highly sought-after collectibles. However, there are many imitations on the market, so buyers must be vigilant. Authentic Lalique marks are rarely over a quarter of an inch in height, and there are several other rules of thumb to help spot a genuine mark. Firstly, pre-1945 marks generally include only the initial "R", not the full "Rene". Secondly, authentic marks used before 1945 and most marks used after 1945 include "France" but not "Made in France".
Pre-1945 custom bottles for commercial perfume companies usually have a raised moulded Lalique mark, while bottles sold empty before this date generally carry a raised moulded mark, an engraved mark, or both. Many pre-1945 bottles sold empty also have matching engraved "control numbers" on the stopper and bottle. After 1945, the "R" was dropped from signatures, and later marks were acid-stamped "Cristal Lalique".
There are some exceptions to these rules. For example, some pre-war moulds with the old "R" signature were used after Lalique's death until the mould was replaced, so some modern pieces bear the moulded "R" signature. Additionally, while the vast majority of authentic marks are a quarter of an inch or smaller, this is not always the case. Some genuine marks may be larger, especially on older pieces.
It is also important to note that forgeries are often made by adding a forged "R" to a genuine factory mark to suggest that the piece is pre-WWII. Many forgeries are also made in modern Czech glass or French glass from the 1920s. Therefore, it is essential to look at other factors besides the mark to determine authenticity. These include the quality of the glass, the presence of mould seams, and the overall design and appearance of the bottle.
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Most pre-1945 custom bottles feature a raised moulded Lalique mark
The Lalique Glass company was founded by Rene Jules Lalique in 1885. Lalique is known for his stunning glass creations, including perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks, and car bonnet ornaments. His glass perfume bottles are the most valued glass collectibles.
Lalique used mass production techniques to make his work available and affordable to people across different income groups. Millions of pieces have been created since the early 1900s, and factories continue to produce fine glass and crystal today.
However, with such a high volume of production, it is important to be able to distinguish authentic Lalique pieces from forgeries. Many copies, both old and new, carry forged marks. There are certain words and phrases that are rarely found on authentic Lalique marks, such as "Paris" and "Made in France". Most pre-1945 custom bottles feature a raised moulded Lalique mark, while bottles sold empty before 1945 generally carry either a raised moulded Lalique mark, an engraved mark, or both. Pre-1945 engraved marks were typically applied to mould-blown pieces, and while there is variation among these genuine engraved marks, they tend to have a similar overall appearance.
Authentic marks before 1945 generally include only the initial "R", while most marks used after 1945 include "France" only. As such, be wary of any marks with "Made in France", as they are likely not genuine. Additionally, authentic marks are rarely over a quarter of an inch tall, so larger marks are often an indication of a forgery.
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Post-war marks omit the letter 'R'
Authentic Lalique marks used before 1945 typically include an "R", while those used after 1945 omit the letter and only include "France". This is because the "R" stands for "Rene", the first name of the founder, and these marks were used before and after his death.
There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. Firstly, the so-called "'long L' authentic moulded mark never appeared with an 'R' and was used far less often than the standard block letter moulded mark. Secondly, some modern pieces do have the moulded "R" signature because a few old pre-war moulds with the old "R" signature were used after Lalique's death until the old mould was replaced. These pieces were also inscribed with "Lalique France" to indicate that they were made after Lalique's death.
Post-war signatures are also different from pre-war signatures in that they are acid-etched in all uppercase block letters with no gaps in the letters and fairly sharp-edged, well-defined letters. Authentic pre-1945 marks, on the other hand, are sans-serif, block-style letters and may or may not include "France".
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Authentic pre-1945 marks should include an 'R'
Authentic Rene Lalique glassware is highly sought after by collectors, but many fakes exist. Lalique glass made before 1945—the year of Rene Lalique's death—generally included the initial "R" for Rene, as in "R. Lalique, France". After 1945, the "'R' was dropped from the mark, so pieces with the "R" are worth considerably more. Thus, forged pieces made after 1945 may have the letter "R" added to suggest they are older and more valuable.
There are some exceptions to the rule that pre-1945 marks should include an "R". For example, the "'long L' authentic moulded mark never appeared with an 'R', and this was used far less often than the standard block letter moulded mark. Another exception is that some modern pieces do have the moulded "R" signature because a few old pre-war moulds were used after Lalique's death until the mould was replaced. However, these pieces are marked "Lalique France" to indicate they are modern crystal made after Lalique died.
There are other ways to distinguish genuine Lalique glass from imitations. Firstly, the lead oxide content of Lalique glass changed in 1945. Before 1945, Lalique glass had a lead oxide content of about 12%, known as demi cristal. After 1945, the amount of lead oxide was doubled to 24%, qualifying it to be called full cristal under French law. This means that glass made before 1945 is less bright, heavy, and transparent than glass made after 1945. This difference can be seen with the naked eye and under long-wave black light: Lalique glass made before 1945 glows yellow under long-wave UV light, while glass made after 1945 glows blue or blue-white. However, this test is not definitive as there are some exceptions, and some imitations may also fluoresce yellow. Secondly, genuine pre-1945 Lalique rarely features ornamental cutting, which was widely used on Eastern European glass, particularly in the Czech Republic, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia, where many imitations were made. Thirdly, the style of the lettering on genuine pre-1945 marks is very plain, with all letters being the same width and no decorative flourishes. Finally, the marks are usually very small, rarely over 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch high, and appear in inconspicuous places like bottom rims or worked into the design.
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Fakes of Lalique perfume bottles have existed for years
There are two basic types of collectible Lalique perfume bottles: empty bottles sold directly by Lalique and other retail outlets, and custom-designed bottles made for commercial perfume companies or large retail stores. Most pre-1945 custom bottles have a raised molded Lalique mark. Bottles sold empty before 1945 generally carry either a raised molded Lalique mark, an engraved mark, or both. Many of the pre-1945 bottles sold empty have matching engraved "control numbers" on the stopper and bottle (but not always).
There are certain words and phrases that appear in many false marks that virtually never appeared in any authentic Lalique mark on general production pieces made either before or after 1945. For instance, standard marks on general production pieces before 1945 generally include only the initial "R", whereas authentic marks used before and after 1945 include "France" only. As a general rule, any mark with "Made in France" is probably not genuine, and many forgeries are one-quarter inch or larger in size. Authentic marks are rarely over one-quarter inch tall.
Additionally, be alert for recently made genuine Lalique bottles that have a forged letter "R" added to the factory mark to suggest the piece is pre-WWII, not post-WWII. All post-war marks omit the "R", and later marks are acid-stamped "Cristal Lalique". Bottles after 1978 bear the "Lalique ® France" signature.
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Frequently asked questions
No, not all Lalique perfume bottles have markings. However, most pre-1945 bottles sold empty have matching engraved "control numbers" on the stopper and bottle.
The so-called "long L" mark is one of the exceptions. This mark never appeared with an R and was used far less often than the standard block letter molded mark.
Any marks with Paris, France, or "Made in France" are likely forged. Additionally, authentic marks are rarely over one-quarter inch tall.
Many forgeries are found on modern Czech glass, French glass from the 1920s, and recently made genuine Lalique bottles with a forged letter R added to suggest they are pre-WWII.
Most pre-1945 custom bottles have a raised molded Lalique mark. Bottles sold empty before 1945 may also carry an engraved mark or both a raised and engraved mark.
