The Figure of ‘Suzanne’
The ‘Suzanne’ statuette stands approximately 23cm high and was produced in clear or frosted glass, with occasional examples in opalescent or tinted finishes. Each version bears the “R. Lalique France” signature, engraved or moulded in relief. The design shows a poised young woman, arms raised and hands resting behind her head, her slender form delicately draped in translucent folds. The frosted surface softly diffuses illumination, lending the figure an ethereal glow. Some examples were mounted on bronze bases with concealed lights, accentuating the model’s subtle curves and precise moulding.
The statuette was catalogued as model No. 833 and appears in Marcilhac: René Lalique, Paris 2011. When produced in opalescent glass with a warm butterscotch, bluish tint or amber, ‘Suzanne’ commands significantly higher prices due to rarity and visual allure. Standard frosted glass versions, while more common, remain highly sought after for their purity of form and historical importance.
Recent Auction Highlights
At auction, Lalique’s ‘Suzanne’ continues to attract strong interest from collectors worldwide. A fine example sold at Adam Partridge Auctioneers in August 2024 for £5,200. Another, converted into a table lamp with a bronze peacock-decorated base, achieved €5,000 in May 2025 at Kunst & Design Auktionshaus Schops.
Record Prices and Auction Results for Lalique’s ‘Suzanne’ Statuette
Record prices have been achieved by rarer tinted pieces — most notably at Christie’s South Kensington in December 2010, where a butterscotch-hued ‘Suzanne’ fetched £23,750.
René and Suzanne Lalique — A Legacy in Glass
René Lalique (1860–1945) was one of the most influential artists of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, celebrated for pioneering work in jewellery and glass. By the 1920s he had established his factory at Wingen-sur-Moder, producing glass for architecture, perfume bottles, lighting, and sculpture. His daughter, Suzanne Lalique-Haviland (1892–1989), designed for Sèvres porcelain and for Lalique itself. Her refined sense of form and modernist taste influenced many of her father’s later works, making her both muse and collaborator.
A Masterpiece of Art Deco Design
The ‘Suzanne’ statuette embodies the spirit of 1925 Paris — the year of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs. Its idealised form bridges classical inspiration and modern stylisation, capturing the aesthetic ideals of grace, symmetry, and serenity. Whether displayed as a frosted sculpture or illuminated as a lamp, ‘Suzanne’ remains a perfect example of Lalique’s vision: to turn light, glass, and human beauty into art.
For collectors, authenticity is confirmed by the R. Lalique mark, clarity of moulded detail, and quality of finish. Pieces with original bronze bases or working illumination are especially prized. Nearly a century after its creation, the ‘Suzanne’ statuette continues to glow — a tribute to René Lalique’s artistry and to the timeless muse who inspired it.
Recent and Interesting Auction Results
| Auctioneer / Location | Date | Details | Hammer Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie’s South Kensington (UK) | 09 Dec 2010 | ‘Suzanne’ statuette, no. 833, butterscotch opalescent; signed R. LALIQUE | £23,750 | Record price; opalescent tint |
| Adam Partridge Auctioneers (UK) | 07 Aug 2024 | ‘Suzanne Statuette’, signed and numbered 833 to base; height 23 cm | £5,200 | Clear/frosted glass |
| Kunst & Design Auktionshaus Schops, Krefeld (DE) | 10 May 2025 | Table lamp ‘Suzanne’, clear pressed glass, satin finish; bronze base with peacock decor | €5,000 | Converted lamp; signed R. LALIQUE |
- Model number: 833 (Marcilhac)
- Design year: 1925
- Typical height: 23 cm (statuette); ~26 cm on lamp base
- Marks: moulded/engraved “R. Lalique” or “R. Lalique France”
- Finishes: clear/frosted; opalescent and tinted examples command premiums
