Émile Gallé, Nancy, Showcase 'Kingfisher', c. 1900, Slim box construction. Single door. Glazed on three sides on a curved rectangular stand with four legs. H. 156 cm, 70.5 x 47 cm. Carved walnut with naturalistic leaf decorations, the sides of the door crowned with plastic kingfishers. Burl veneer serves as the top covering. The back wall inside is decorated with a marquetry made of different precious woods. A wide lake landscape is shown with weeping willow leaves and seven buzzing dragonflies in the foreground. Signed: GALLE (inlaid, japonesque).Émile Gallé - The all-rounderÉmile Gallé - when you hear this name, you immediately think of the beautiful, luminous glass vases that the passionate botanist and chemist made together with a team of highly talented employees in various techniques and levels of difficulty. Like many of his contemporaries, he was inspired in his works by the art of Japan, which was only just advancing into the rest of the world.He actually started his career in his father's ceramics factory, where he was already creating outstanding decors with an East Asian influence.In addition, around 1885, he started producing furniture.Lorraine, especially Nancy, has been famous for its high-quality furniture for centuries. Gallé therefore had no difficulty in finding carpenters who could produce for him.Regardless of the area in which Gallé got involved, he managed to combine his passions, like here in the 'Martin-pêcheur' showcase from 1900.,