Lalique glasses, started by the French glass designer René Lalique, was very popular in the 20th century. The fashion spread from Europe to the world, and to Shanghai's Cathay Hotel (now the Fairmont Peace Hotel). The owner Victor Sassoon ordered lalique art pieces for his luxury hotel on the bund and opened a lalique shop inside the hotel. Today on the 9th floor of the Peace Hotel, you can still find the original lalique glasses from 1920s.

It was named the Cathay Hotel in the colonial period of Shanghai. The hotel was built in 1929 by Sir Victor Sassoon, whose family was rich and dominating in Shanghai's real estate business. After New China, the hotel was managed by the government under the name of "Peace Hotel". Today Fairmont Group manages the Peace Hotel, after a three-year renovation from 2007-2010.