The name of Rene Lalique (1860-1945) is familiar throughout the world and is synonymous with one of the most extraordinary decorative vocabularies of this century. Known primarily as a master craftsman of objects in glass, he was also the designer of exquisite jewelry that attained the highest expression of the Art Nouveau style. This book, published to coincide with a major retrospective of the artist's early work, brings together a dazzling array of jewels, many from private collections shown here for the first time, and presents them in the context of Lalique's contemporary work in glass. Authoritative texts by an International team of scholars examine a broad range of themes and influences on the artist's career from fashion and photography to literature and jeweler's techniques.