When René-Jules Lalique established his eponymous maison in the late 19th century, it was as a jewelry workshop, with inspirations ranging from his study of the French decorative arts—which later influenced the Art Deco movement—to an interest in antiquity and the growing Japonisme trend. As he gathered acclaim, socialites and other luminaries clamored to wear his jewels, and he received a French Legion d'Honneur after showcasing his work at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. After early experiments with glassmaking, the maison began shifting its focus to this artform in the early 1920s, adhering to a production process that featured up to 40 steps, involving hot and cold glass, lost-wax techniques, and quality control—all upheld through generations of the Lalique family. René can also be credited with popularizing the textural combination of crystalline and frosted glass, a feature of many Lalique pieces to this day.