The body of the case is yellow glass cameo cut into several tones the basis of which is red and brown. The decoration is relief etched, and shows cherry flowers with leaves and buds. On the body there is a signature in etched relief, Gallé, and at the bottom a paper sticker GALLE NANCY PARIS 241. Emile Gallé (1846 – 1904) is one of the most important Art Nouveau artists to deal with glass design. At the beginning he worked in his father’s firm, and in 1873 he launched his own firm that employed a whole team of master designers who made items from his drawings. He had always been fascinated with flora and fauna, and insects and flowers were common motifs in his works. In 1899 at the Paris Exhibition he won a Grand Prix, and two years later founded a glassmaking school in Nancy. After his death in 1904 the work in the glassworks was run by his wife, still making use of his signature, but with an asterisk after the name.