"Jean Perzel was born in Bruck on 2 May 1892. He learned the trade of glass painter in Munich when he was still very young and at the age of 16 he left school at the top of the class and set off around Europe on foot. In 1910 he arrived in Paris, where he found work with a master glassmaker. He continued to work as a glass painter, particularly for Gruber. From 1923, he started to specialise in designing lighting for modern interiors. "He showed his work in the “Automne” exhibitions from 1924 (as a member), the interior designers' exhibition from 1925, the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1932 to 1936, and abroad in Barcelona, Bari, Brussels and New York. He served on a large number of jurys during these exhibitions. "He won First Prize at the Concours d’ Eclairage organised at the 'Salon des Décorateurs exhibition in 1928, and four First Prizes at the Concours du Luminaire in 1936. He was commissioned to design the lighting for the Palace of the League of Nations in Geneva, Luxembourg cathedral, Mulhouse station, and the Institut Français in London; he also worked for the Maharajah of Indore, the Belgian royal family, Henry Ford in Detroit, the buildings of the European Coal and Steel Community the Canadian Embassy in the Hague, the Residence of the Emperor of Annam in Dalat, and the Royal Chitralada Palace (Residence of the King of Siam) in Bangkok. He was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1937." Jean Perzel was the first designer of distinctly modern lighting and the first to concern himself particularly with electricity - it's nature, potential, intensity, methods of use (in direct or indirect lighting) - and to design logical, rational and harmonious fittings; he was the first to exploit the design potential of glass while using it to diffuse light.