Some years ago, I came across what I thought was a vase by the famous French glassmaker Emile Gallé from the 1900s.

The ‘vase’ was far from perfect, but I knew that. A piece at the top had broken off, but I would have that fixed. I had no intention of selling it, so it didn’t matter to me.

After some research, I found out that my ‘vase’ was not a vase at all but a lamp—the base of a lamp, to be correct. There are only a handful of them left, mostly in museums. Barbara Streisand used to have one.

I also discovered that fixing a lamp with the shade missing requires quite a lot more effort than fixing a vase. The more research I did, the more I learned just how much effort was needed.

I discovered that the glass is made up of three different-coloured layers. They then used acid to eat parts of the glass away to get the cameo effect his glass is famous for. After that, the glass was carved to perfection by hand.

I also learned a lot about the man himself, and I grew fond of him. Emile Gallé had a human side, which was less common in the period before the Great War.

The effort that went into making the lamp is enormous. And the story of the man who made it gives the object a soul. I have warmed up to him, and he also has my respect.

The effort I must put into fixing the object is still unclear, but I will do it. I am emotionally invested.