Marc Lalique was the son of René Lalique and Alice Ledru, and the brother of Suzanne. Having studied at the Ecole des arts décoratifs in Paris, he joined the business in 1922 and took over as both head and chief designer upon his father’s death in 1945.
In 1935 he was instrumental in organising exhibitions in New York at B. Altman and Co. in 1935 and at Saks in Fifth Avenue in 1939. The latter very much focussed on boxes, scent bottles and dressing table sets. He was responsible for restoring the factory in Wingen-sur-Moder following the war damage it had sustained. He modernised the factory and also introduced crystal.
Whilst Marc continued to produce his father’s designs he also created works of his own and is perhaps best known for his Cactus table, his L’Air du Temps scent bottles for Nina Ricci and his Anges champagne glasses. Other notable works include the Deux Poissons group, a scent bottle for Morabito, the Everest vase, as well as the Champs Elysees bowl which still remains in production today.
Marc passed away in 1977, leaving his daughter Marie-Claude in charge of Lalique.
Image courtesy of Lalique. Marc Lalique © LALIQUE SA