'JEWELS OF ART NOUVEAU'
ÉMILE GALLÉ AND GLASS ART

In the Room-Museum of the Hotel Bagués, you can discover a collection of 27 Art Noveau glass vases, works by Émile Gallé and other authors of that time. Gallé (Nancy, 1846-1904) is regarded as one of the leading innovators of the French Art Nouveau movement and known mainly for his work on glass. In addition, he is one of the founders of the École de Nancy.

  • Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona
  • Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona
  • Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona
  • Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona

The collection, which had previously belonged to a Madrid noble family, also counts with works by other contemporary artists to Gallé, some of them trained in his workshops. The ensemble stands out for its rich coloring and for the use of nature-inspired motifs. To do this, Gallé created a botanical garden in his workshop in order to be able to easily and faithfully access the models that inspired him and his disciples.

The technique of acid etching is the protagonist of this exhibition. It is a technique that allows to identify different relief patterns, thus obtaining a subtle mixture of effects between polished glass, matte glass and satin. To make it, the negative decoration is first drawn on the piece of glass, which will be coated with a base of Judea bitumen. The piece is then submerged in a hydrofluoric acid bath. This acid attacks the unprotected parts of the piece making the decoration come to life in different shades.

UNIQUE DETAILS IN EVERY CORNER

Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona

The construction of the Hotel Bagués 5* is an expression of art in itself; the materials and forms are inspired by those used by the couple Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald at The Willow Tearooms in Glasgow.

Hotel Bagues 5* Barcelona

One item that really catches the eye for its beauty and impressive size is the large golden sculpture representing a vine. Made at the Cuenca School of Arts and Crafts it spirals down through the building, entwined in the main staircase, like the backbone of the boutique hotel.

As in all Derby Hotels Collection establishments, the collection is open to the public for free and it is recommended to contact the hotel in advance to arrange the visit.

JORDI CLOS

THE COLLECTOR

In addition to being a hotelier, Jordi Clos is an Egyptologist, collector and patron of the arts. He chairs the Clos Archaeological Foundation and the Egyptian Museum in Barcelona, containing the largest private collection of Egyptian art in Europe shown to the public. Clos has been financing archaeological excavations in Egypt for more than twenty years.

 
  • Jordi Clos

    JORDI CLOS
    Derby Hotels Collection President

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