The city of Nancy in France was an important center for Art Nouveau glass manufacture. The dominant figure in the early style was Émile Gallé of that city. He learned glassmaking in the factory of his father in Nancy, which also made furniture and ceramics. He studied philosophy, botany and zoology, and also studied painting. He made study trips to London and Paris, where he discovered Japanese art and decoration, which he applied to his glass. He inherited the family firm in 1884, and produced a remarkable series of glass objects, using techniques of engraving glass borrowed from Chinese art glass, and methods of layering plaques of glass. He also developed methods to improve the color and luminosity of glass, without losing clarity. He presented his Art Nouveau works with success at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900, and was a founder of the Ecole de Nancy, bridging together architect, glass and furniture designers.