At the Universal Exhibition of 1889, Emile Gallé made the acquaintance of the poet Robert de Montesquiou. The two men were very close until one fateful day in June 1897 when they became embroiled in one of the quarrels that customarily put an end to friendships with the very touchy count.In the meantime, at the beginning of 1893, Gallé had given Montesquiou Mysterious Grapes. As Montesquiou had asked him why, Gallé wrote: