The mystique of Lalique

It is amusing to think how one can get introspective when far away from home. This is what I have discovered in my trip to France. Time away from the familiar and routine has given me a chance to get in touch with myself and assess how far I’ve grown in life, thus giving me a deeper appreciation of what I’ve achieved and become.

I do not want to bore you with much talk about my awakening, but you would be able to relate to my experience if, you, too, were whisked away to this enchanting place. It would awaken a gamut of emotions within you, mostly childlike feelings of wonder, enchantment, romance and excitement, especially when you’re surrounded by true objects of beauty.

Enough of that. Moving along in the spirit of my weekly television program A Taste of Life, I’d like to share with you a zest for the finer things of this world: in food, as well as nature and the arts, and there could be no finer example.

Together with the crew of IBC-13 and good friend Mitos Juarez, dynamic Deco Centrum marketing VP, we headed to Alsace on our third day in France. Our purpose was to visit the Lalique factory, world-famous for its tradition of creating an elegant line of crystals and jewelry.

Located southeast of Paris, Alsace is a charming province with rolling hills and a castle-dotted landscape. Strasbourg, which is the main city in Alsace, is its capital. It is situated at the boundary of France and Germany. Most of the people in Strasbourg speak German and their architecture is very much German.

Strasbourg is also the birthplace of the much-revered pate de foie gras! (And I’ll add a five-star rating to that, too!) It is a mortal sin to leave Strasbourg without considering this heavenly delicacy made of premium goose liver.

Foie gras is best enjoyed at the beginning of a meal and not eaten with any dish high in acidity, such as a seasoned salad or the like. This paté is not to be spread on bread. Try it once and you’ll try it again for sure. And I’m not one to stop you. As a matter of fact, do enjoy it without moderation, as far as your budget can take you because of its rather steep cost.

They say that foie gras is rich in unsuspected virtues. It contains a significant quantity of monounsaturated acid, excellent for the protection of the cardiovascular system. So indulge I did. How could you not if you were in a town famous for the production of over 40 varieties of paté.

The beauty of nature was what greeted us on our trip to the Lalique factory in Wingen in the region of Alsace. The hour-long drive from Strasbourg airport through green tree-lined roads was really relaxing. It gives you an understanding of why Rene Lalique, the artist extraordinaire, was fascinated with the fauna and flora of this countryside, and why his works eventually gained worldwide acclaim. His jewelry was worn only by royalty and the VIPs of his time, most pieces being commissioned works of art. Such was his success that his legacy lives on, with the fundamentally artistic company creating crystal objets d’art bearing his name: Lalique.

Rene Jules Lalique, the son of a mercantile agent, was born on April 6, 1860, in the village of Ay, France. His talent for drawing was manifested at a very early age with his sketches of plants and insects while spending hours in the meadows near his home. At 16, he took an apprenticeship with Louis Aucoc, a famous jeweler, and mastered his craft. His sole object of inspiration was the woman, in all her beauty and romance, and his creations enhanced female narcissism. He associated the subject of woman and flowers or woman and animals as having been inspired by Japanese art. Lalique heralded Art Nouveau when it was a complicated, impure mixture of scraps of the present, which were eventually to be the seeds of the future.

He used metal, semi-precious stones and glass to express his creativity in jewelry. He was more interested in the stones’ color, relative qualities and shapes rather than the market price. He used opals and baroque pearls when these were not even appreciated as jewelry. He designed jewelry for some of the most famous people of his time until he was contracted by François Coty to design the bottle for a new perfume. His passion for glass became apparent as he abandoned jewelry-making and established his glass factory in 1907. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Wingen was basically chosen to house the factory because of its forests. An ample supply of wood was required to continuously fire the furnaces. The factory is all industrial-looking in the gray color of Lalique, but the culture of the company encourages the appreciation of the history and the design side of business. The craftsman as the creative force of the company is given as much importance as the customer, striking a balance for the company. Everything is done by hand as they are very particular about each detail of every piece. Lalique is synonymous with luxury, craftsmanship and artistry with designs true to the artist’s original spirit. The Lalique family ensures that the creative vision of Rene will be carried into the 21st century. That place in Wingen is essentially an artist’s workshop.

The romance and style of Lalique was evident even in their choice of accommodations for our group. We were billeted in a chateau called Aux Trois Roses in the village of Le Petite Pierre. It is the most romantic place you can ever imagine! (And once more, I’ll add a five-star rating to that!) This enchanting chalet will linger in my mind for as long as my memory lasts and would be one of my favorite things from now on.

I recommend this, one of France’s best- kept secrets, for you to unravel if you happen to pass this way. They use the softest down pillows and comforters, it’s like you’re sleeping on clouds. And the view from the balcony of each room is spectacular. You can actually imagine what The Sound of Music’s Maria felt on top of those hills singing her lungs out, or Ewan McGregor, for that matter, with his updated version for the movie Moulin Rouge.

I just wanted to climb out of the window and do exactly the same thing. But lest I lose my sanity, I just vented it all on a sumptuous dinner, indulging once more in the health-giving properties of foie gras, my taste buds seeking excitement, drama and sweet satisfaction with every bite. Well, if I can’t live out my romantic flights of fancy here in the most idyllic place in the world, the next best thing is to make my food fantasies come to life.

The next day, we were back in Paris to visit the high-glamour Lalique Boutique in 11 Rue Royale.
Catherine Vincent Dolor, the very elegant and chic PR director of Lalique, gave us a glimpse of the private museum of Rene Lalique’s original creations.

Marc Lalique took over his father’s work after the Second World War and shifted to crystals instead of glass. His daughter, Marie Claude Lalique, who was also a very good artist, continues the legacy. Both succeeding generations managed to refine the look that has become known as "Le Style Lalique," while each leaving his or her own mark.

The year 1977 marked the expansion of Lalique under a new management. The new group, however, recognizes the relevance of the past to the business and how it should be run. Today, all Lalique products reflect the vision of Rene Lalique, whether jewelry, timepieces or scarves. They are breathtaking pieces to behold, all signifying the beauty of the woman in her natural environment of flora and fauna. Here are genuine objects of beauty worth having because of their timeless elegance.

After putting in a hard day’s work, it is rewarding to be surrounded by objects of beauty and class, indicating your true accomplishments in life and how far you have made it in this world. Too often in life, one is forced to choose between what one needs and what one really wants. But when you have achieved that perfect balance, you deserve to indulge in certain luxuries. Owning a Lalique is one indulgence I can be proud of. It expresses my taste for things of splendor, making perfect heirlooms unmarred by time which will continue to sparkle, long after my star has lost its luster.

But true beauty never fades, in individuals of strength and accomplishment, every line etched in their faces marking a milestone they’ve achieved in their lives. Hold this thought as you continually do good and seek the good in everyone and everything!

Join me as I take you on a magic carpet ride to more fabulous sights in France next week. Till then, live with gusto!