Transparent dark red-amber non-lead glass; mold-blown, ground and polished rim, acid-etched. Roughly spherical vessel with narrow cone-shaped neck, lipless rim ground and polished flat; lobed body of vessel in shape of 3-4 thick spiraling coils of serpent with overall feather-shaped scales with partial matte surface, head of snake with gaping jaw and upper fang is at neck of vessel; flattened base, no pontil; molded on base: "R. LALIQUE (inscribed in script) France/(below) France; yellow gummed label "57" on base.

René Lalique (French, 1860-1945) began his career as a jeweler. In 1890, he opened a studio in Paris, where he made his famous jewelry designed for celebrities and other socially elite personalities. He began to experiment with glass, and started to commercially produce glass perfume bottles in 1909. Purchasing a larger factory in 1918, Lalique manufactured a wide range of art glass using modern industrial techniques, such as pressing. The Serpent (Snake) Vase is one of his most popular designs.