History of Lalique

To supplement the talk on Tuesday, here is a summary of the history of Lalique and a link for more information.  

Founded in 1888 by visionary French artist René Lalique, the House of Lalique stands as one of the ultimate symbols of French luxury, evolving from an avant-garde Art Nouveau jewellery house into a world-renowned pioneer of Art Deco glass and crystal. 

The Master of Art Nouveau Jewellery (1885–1905)

Early Training: René Lalique apprenticed under goldsmith Louis Aucoc and studied in both Paris and London.

Workshop Takeover: In 1885, he assumed control of Jules Destape's Paris workshop to launch his independent career.

Breaking the Rules: Lalique disrupted traditional jewellery standards by prioritizing artistic design over the intrinsic value of precious gemstones.

Innovative Materials: He mixed gold with unconventional, organic components including horn, enamel, ivory, and early glasswork. 

Exposition Triumph: His naturalistic, sinuous designs made him a leading figure of Art Nouveau, culminating in sweeping critical acclaim at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle.  

The Transition to Master Glassmaker (1905–1945)

Coty Collaboration: In 1907, legendary perfumer François Coty commissioned Lalique to design artistic fragrance flacons.

Perfume Revolution: This partnership married commercial industry with fine art, introducing mass-produced, beautiful perfume bottles to the public for the first time.

Industrial Expansion: Shifting completely away from jewellery, Lalique acquired the Combs-la-Ville Glassworks in 1913 and later opened the historic Verrerie d’Alsace factory in Wingen-sur-Moder in 1922.

Art Deco Icon: At the 1925 Paris International Exposition, his signature style of contrasting frosted and clear glass cemented him as a master of Art Deco design.

Grand Architecture: The brand expanded into luxury transport and interior decoration, outfitting the Orient Express, the SS Normandie ocean liner, and grand fountains on the Champs-Élysées.

The Evolution into Crystal (1945–Present)

The Crystal Era: Following René's death in 1945, his son Marc took the helm and transitioned the company's output from glass to brilliant lead crystal.

Generational Legacy: Marc's daughter, Marie-Claude Lalique, took over in 1977, reviving the brand's long-dormant jewellery division and launching its signature in-house fragrance lines.

Modern Expansion: Swiss firm Lalique Group SA (formerly Art & Fragrance SA) acquired the heritage brand in 2010.

Enduring Savoir-Faire: Today, the factory in Wingen-sur-Moder remains Lalique's sole manufacturing site, blending a century of artisanal heritage with contemporary art, homeware, and fashion partnerships. 

https://fr.lalique.com/en/pages/story-of-lalique?srsltid=AfmBOoqz8Qg_s-ZL74VQ2d8uvNRe7j7u95Qeshqr92yTM9Bcbo9LDgwb#

The Fallible Flaneur - The Death of John Barker

Here is a recent post by Colin in his blog “The Fallible Flaneur”.  It’s about his recent visit to the Rosary Cemetery and the grave of John Barker who was the man who brought steam to fair attractions.  Be warned it’s about about his awful death:

https://colinhowey.substack.com/p/the-heroic-death-of-a-late-nineteenth?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=5103464&post_id=207332134&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=5r7ewp&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

 

Travelling From Norwich to Watton in 1845

I came across this advert the other day which describes travelling from Watton to Norwich in two hours.  I find the advert quite confusing although it would appear that you travelled to Attleborough station from Watton by omnibus which was a horse drawn carriage and then presumably by train to Norwich and then by omnibus or “flies”  (a fast lightweight carriage) into the city.  The return journey is less clear but I it looks like you were transported to Trowse station by omnibus and then presumably back to Attleborough by train and then omnibus to Watton.  I did wonder whether Watton ever got a railway and it appears it did in 1869.  

History of the Bridewell

Following on from our visit, here is a summary of the history of this historic building:  

14th-Century Merchant Residence: Built around 1325 by Geoffrey de Salle and later enlarged by William Appleyard (the first Mayor of Norwich), the property is a rare architectural marvel. It features the largest brick-built undercroft in the city and one of the finest examples of exposed flintwork facades in England.

The House of Correction (1585–1828): In 1583, the City Corporation purchased the home and converted it into a Bridewell to punish vagrants, "troublesome" individuals, and local beggars. Inmates faced harsh, punishing conditions, and the mere presence of the prison was designed to strike fear into local citizens. Following a devastating fire in 1751, the building was extensively repaired.

Industrial Use (1828–1923): After the inmates were moved to a new city facility, the Bridewell was used as a leather warehouse and a boot and shoe factory before eventually closing as an industrial space.

Museum Era (1925–Present): In 1923, Sir Henry Holmes, a local shoe manufacturer, purchased the building and donated it to the City of Norwich. It opened as the Bridewell Museum in 1925. Following a massive £1.5m redevelopment, it was rebranded as the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell, shifting its focus to showcase the city's broader social history, trades, and local communities.

Here is an article with more detail on it’s history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Norwich_at_the_Bridewell

Who Was Rumsey Wells?

There was a great deal of interesting information at The Bridewell Museum on Tuesday, some I had heard before and some gems that I hadn’t heard.  One of those gems was the story of Rumsey Wells who was an extrovert who owned a hatters on St Andrew’s Street.  So if you didn’t get to see this in the museum, here is an article about him.

https://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/article/rumsey-wells/

Old Pictures of Hunstanton

I visited Hunstanton recently and visited the excellent Heritage Centre.  The staff were very friendly, gave us free drinks and provided an overview of the history of Hunstanton.  Anyway here are some of the pictures that I took.  

Hunstanton Pier:  Hunstanton Pier was an 830-foot Victorian structure that opened on Easter Sunday in 1870. Designed by J.W. Wilson, it served as a cargo and passenger ferry landing, a steamer link to Skegness, and an entertainment hub. Following decades of fires and severe storms, the original pier was destroyed in 1978 and its remaining structures burned down in 2002:

The Bathing Pool (The Blue Lagoon):  Opened in 1928 by channel swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, it featured diving boards, water slides, and dedicated areas for learners. The pool was controversially demolished in 1967 to build a leisure dome, eventually making way for the Oasis Leisure Centre in 1984:

The Boating Lake:  Hunstanton’s popular boating lake officially opened in 1932 as part of a major extension to the resort's South Promenade. Built on land that was previously just grass and sand dunes behind Seagate Road, the lake became a central seaside attraction for decades before eventually making way for the Sea Life Aquarium:

Henry Walpole (1558 - 1595)

We have all heard of the Walpole family but have you heard of Henry Walpole?  The family name originates from the Norman conquest and was derived from the Old English words welle, meaning well, and pol, meaning pool, and refers to a pool formed by a well.  Henry was an English Jesuit martyr from Docking, Norfolk who was executed at York for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy during Elizabeth I’s reign.  Yes - atrocities occurred during her reign!  Where did he become a follower of the Jesuits?  When was he beatified and canonised?  To answer these questions and find out more please select the following article:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Walpole