11:15 AM – See Glasswork Masterpieces at Lalique Museum, Hakone
At Lalique Museum, Hakone, the works of famous French jewelry and glass designer, René Lalique, are on display.
The museum is well known for its special exhibit of the Orient Express, Europe’s long distance passenger train. Lalique assisted with the design of the carriage interior. The Orient Express (built in 1929) ceased operations as a passenger train and it is now the centerpiece of the Lalique Museum Hakone.
Inside the train you sit on the original chairs and enjoy luxurious afternoon tea here. Make your reservation when you go the museum. The price is 2,100 yen including tax (includes tea and dessert).
The inside of the carriage is made from mahogany. The train was in service for many years, so it has a tasteful and distinctive atmosphere.
More than 150 of Lalique’s glass panels decorate the inside of the car. The shades change color when the interior lights shine over them, or when the sunlight filters in through the windows.
The chairs, with their graceful and elegant floral designs, are the original pieces that have been used since 1929.
Lalique’s glass panel design (upper photo) above the flower-patterned chair represents a bountiful harvest, with images of grapes and a man and woman. It is entitled “Carved Figures and Grapes.”
Lalique Museum, Hakone houses approximately 1,500 pieces of Lalique’s artwork, and of these, around 230 pieces are permanent exhibits.
Lalique first began his career as a jewelry designer. His reputation as an artist became firmly established after being commissioned to design perfume bottles. Up until then, perfume was usually kept in medicine bottles. However, Lalique put his design ideas to work, and perfume bottles became much smaller in size. Small, intricately-detailed perfume bottles, like the ones you see today, soon spread in popularity around the world due to his innovation.
After this Lalique switched over to glasswork, and continued to create exquisitely designed pieces of art one after the other.
At the museum you can immerse yourself in the elegant and graceful world of Lalique’s art masterpieces.
Admission is 1,500 yen for adults, 1,300 yen for senior high school and university students and also those 65 years and up, and elementary school and junior high school students are 800 yen (all prices including tax).
You will also receive a discount when you present your Hakone Freepass (discounted prices depend on the season).
