Émile Gallé (Nancy, 1846-1904), was a famous French glassmaker, ceramist and cabinetmaker. But did you know that he was also Ernest Gallé's cousin (1936-1900), annuitant and owner of the Gallé-Juillet Housein Creil ?

Anecdote written in partnership with Gallé-Juillet Museum.

Family visits to Emile Gallé in Creil

Thanks to Ernest Gallé's diariesSeveral of the Gallés' trips from Nancy to Creil have been recorded. Charles Gallé, father of Émile Gallé, was one of the tWitnesses to the marriage of Ernest Gallé to Marie Juillet. He travelled from Nancy for the occasion.

Following the birth of Ernest Gallé's son AugusteIn 1867, Émile Gallé and his father came to Creil several times. They received a photograph of the young boy and a painting donated by the painter Louis Thomas, a friend of Ernest Gallé who lived in Mello, near Creil.

Following the death of Jules Juillet, Ernest's father-in-law, in 1868, Ernest paid tribute by sending the family biographies and portraits of the deceased. The Gallés of Nancy have not been forgotten.

In 1869, Charles Gallé came to spend a few days in Creil, and brought some earthenware at Ernest.

When Auguste Gallé, Ernest's son, married Berthe Franchemont in 1894, Charles Gallé once again travelled from Nancy to be one of the bride and groom's witnesses. To mark the occasion, Emile Gallé presented his cousin Auguste with a beautiful Art Nouveau inlaid table.

Inlaid table given to Ernest by Émile Gallé
Art Nouveau side table with inlaid decoration of dragonflies and water lilies

Good to know :

This table travelled to Nancy a few years ago for an exhibition.

A Gallé collection in Creil

These family ties have enabled the Gallé family from Creil to receive several works by Émile Gallé on display. All these souvenirs were donated to the town of Creil in 1930 by Berthe Gallé, the Gallé-Juillet Museum can now present them to visitors.