Artist. He studied philosophy, botany, and drawing and from 1864-1866 was enrolled at a private art school in Weimar. In 1867 he completed his practical training at the glassworks in Meisenthal which is in the northern part of the Lorraine region. From 1871-72 he studied in Paris and London where he was exposed to Japanese and Chinese art and glassware which was to have a lasting influence on his work. He took over the artistic direction of his father’s workshop in Nancy in 1874. In 1884 he added a furniture workshop to the glassworks which two years later was expanded into a furniture factory. At the World Expositions in Paris in 1878, 1889, and 1900 he exhibited ceramics, glassware, and furniture winning numerous prizes and receiving great acclaim. By 1900 there were over 300 workers in associated with his glass and furniture factories. In 1901 he founded the ƒcole de Nancy which was an agglomeration of industrial artists and craftsmen producing high quality pieces in the natural-style of Art Nouveau. He is still considered to this day as one of the most outstanding glassmakers of all time, contributing new techniques and achieving perfection with the difficult marquetrie-de-verre which is a difficult form of inlay glass in which glass is heated and pressed into the surface. His furniture was noted for its beautiful inlay work. Inscriptions of Symbolist poetry were incorporated into both his glass and furniture. His motto was carved into a door above his glassworks which read, “Nos racines sont au fond des boisnau bord des sources, sur les mousses.” “Our roots are in the depth of the woods on the bank of streams, on the mosses.” (Bio by J. Ney) Cause of death: leukemia