Degué
French
David Guéron (1892–1950) | Degué: The Visionary of Art Deco Glass
David Guéron, a Turkish-born entrepreneur of Spanish Jewish descent, rose to prominence as the creative force behind the celebrated Degué brand of French Art Deco glass. His life was marked by remarkable transformations—shaped by war, innovation, and a pursuit of artistic excellence that defined the golden era of Art Deco design.
Born in 1892, Guéron’s early life in Turkey was disrupted by scandal, prompting him to join the French Foreign Legion in 1914. He served courageously on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded and honorably discharged with a pension. This experience marked the beginning of his second life, one in which he would channel his energy and ambition into the world of glassmaking.
In the early 1920s, inspired by the artistic resurgence of postwar France, Guéron established Cristalleries de Compiègne near Paris, producing functional tableware and glass. However, his true breakthrough came in 1926, when he shifted his focus to luxury art glass. That year, he founded Verrerie d’Art Degué in Paris, complete with a workshop and a gallery on Boulevard Malesherbes, where he showcased his vibrant and innovative designs under the name “Degué.”
Guéron’s creations quickly captured public attention, celebrated for their artistry, vivid colors, and inventive techniques. His works included exquisite vases, lamps, chandeliers, and plaffoniers—decorative ceiling lamps made of layered glass featuring intricate swirls of color and bold geometric patterns. Techniques such as sandblasting, engraving, and enameling became hallmarks of his production, and the pieces were often inspired by nature or executed in strikingly modern, stylized forms.
One of Guéron’s most significant collaborations was with the esteemed French ceramist Edouard Cazaux, whose thick molded glass designs introduced dynamic, geometric motifs that embodied the spirit of Art Deco. Together, they produced some of Degué’s most celebrated works—pieces that balanced artistic innovation with the craftsmanship for which French glassmaking was renowned.
Degué’s success was not without challenges. Accused of imitating the designs of contemporaries like Charles Schneider and Muller Frères, Guéron faced a lengthy legal battle that drained the finances of both parties. Despite this, his brand’s reputation flourished, and Degué glass became synonymous with luxury and elegance during the 1920s and early 1930s.
A pinnacle of Guéron’s career came with his commission for the French ocean liner Normandie—a showcase of French luxury and artistry. His factory crafted over 6,000 glass panels for the ship’s interior, featuring engraved diamond patterns and eglomisé finishes designed in collaboration with famed glass artist Auguste Labouret. This ambitious undertaking remains one of the greatest achievements of French Art Deco glass.
By the mid-1930s, however, economic hardship and widespread labor strikes crippled production. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 forced Guéron to close Verrerie d’Art Degué. He fled France for the United States during the war, as the industry and art world faced immense upheaval.
Although his glassworks came to an untimely end, David Guéron’s contributions to Art Deco design left an enduring legacy. Today, Degué glass is revered for its innovative use of color, form, and technique—pieces that reflect both the artistic aspirations and the societal shifts of the interwar period. Collectors and enthusiasts continue to celebrate Guéron’s work as a symbol of the vibrant creativity that defined 20th-century decorative arts.
David Guéron, a Turkish-born entrepreneur of Spanish Jewish descent, rose to prominence as the creative force behind the celebrated Degué brand of French Art Deco glass. His life was marked by remarkable transformations—shaped by war, innovation, and a pursuit of artistic excellence that defined the golden era of Art Deco design.
Born in 1892, Guéron’s early life in Turkey was disrupted by scandal, prompting him to join the French Foreign Legion in 1914. He served courageously on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded and honorably discharged with a pension. This experience marked the beginning of his second life, one in which he would channel his energy and ambition into the world of glassmaking.
In the early 1920s, inspired by the artistic resurgence of postwar France, Guéron established Cristalleries de Compiègne near Paris, producing functional tableware and glass. However, his true breakthrough came in 1926, when he shifted his focus to luxury art glass. That year, he founded Verrerie d’Art Degué in Paris, complete with a workshop and a gallery on Boulevard Malesherbes, where he showcased his vibrant and innovative designs under the name “Degué.”
Guéron’s creations quickly captured public attention, celebrated for their artistry, vivid colors, and inventive techniques. His works included exquisite vases, lamps, chandeliers, and plaffoniers—decorative ceiling lamps made of layered glass featuring intricate swirls of color and bold geometric patterns. Techniques such as sandblasting, engraving, and enameling became hallmarks of his production, and the pieces were often inspired by nature or executed in strikingly modern, stylized forms.
One of Guéron’s most significant collaborations was with the esteemed French ceramist Edouard Cazaux, whose thick molded glass designs introduced dynamic, geometric motifs that embodied the spirit of Art Deco. Together, they produced some of Degué’s most celebrated works—pieces that balanced artistic innovation with the craftsmanship for which French glassmaking was renowned.
Degué’s success was not without challenges. Accused of imitating the designs of contemporaries like Charles Schneider and Muller Frères, Guéron faced a lengthy legal battle that drained the finances of both parties. Despite this, his brand’s reputation flourished, and Degué glass became synonymous with luxury and elegance during the 1920s and early 1930s.
A pinnacle of Guéron’s career came with his commission for the French ocean liner Normandie—a showcase of French luxury and artistry. His factory crafted over 6,000 glass panels for the ship’s interior, featuring engraved diamond patterns and eglomisé finishes designed in collaboration with famed glass artist Auguste Labouret. This ambitious undertaking remains one of the greatest achievements of French Art Deco glass.
By the mid-1930s, however, economic hardship and widespread labor strikes crippled production. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 forced Guéron to close Verrerie d’Art Degué. He fled France for the United States during the war, as the industry and art world faced immense upheaval.
Although his glassworks came to an untimely end, David Guéron’s contributions to Art Deco design left an enduring legacy. Today, Degué glass is revered for its innovative use of color, form, and technique—pieces that reflect both the artistic aspirations and the societal shifts of the interwar period. Collectors and enthusiasts continue to celebrate Guéron’s work as a symbol of the vibrant creativity that defined 20th-century decorative arts.
new
Sold
Degué
Art Deco Molded, Frosted Floral Abstract Cubist & Nickel Chandelier Signed Degué
H 21 in DIA 20 in
$ 4,475
Degué
Art Deco Frosted Glass Pendant Chandelier W/ Brass Fittings Signed Degué
H 12 in DIA 13 in
$ 3,475
Degué
Art Deco Frosted Rose Stylized Cubist Floral Motif Chandelier Signed Degue
H 17 in DIA 16 in
$ 4,475
Loading...
