"Ornamentalist composer, an assembler of images". This is how Emile Gallé defined himself thus in his book “Writings on Art” (1908). This genius’ main source of inspiration was nature. When he was young, together with his uncle he would collect plants, becoming a highly skilled botanist.  It was thanks to the fact that he had studied plants, trees and flowers both as an artist and an academic, that he was able to create such innovative works of decorative art.