Art Deco Jewelry: Modernist Masterworks and their Makers

This book presents some of the finest Art Deco jewelry produced by the world’s leading designers and makers between 1910 and 1937. Not only does it feature the most famous names of the Art Deco period, it also restores other notable makers to their proper place in an era that saw the creation of stunningly stylish and beautiful jewelry.

Drawn from public and private collections worldwide, some of the best-known pieces of Art Deco jewelry are shown alongside many original drawings and designs, several for the first time. A number of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject explore the world of Art Deco jewelry in essays on the context of the modern movement; on clients and collectors; on the relationship between jewelry and the fine arts, architecture and cinema; and on the world of graphic art, commercial design and advertising.

Eighteen designers and houses are featured individually, including Paul Brandt, Suzanne Belperron, Boivin, Cartier, Jean Després, Jean Fouquet, Gérard Sandoz and Raymond Templier, among others. Some were the heirs to jewelry dynasties, some were talented newcomers with fresh ideas, but all left their mark on the Art Deco era. Echoing the revolution that occurred throughout the arts in this period, their jewelry ranged from lavish gem-studded creations worn by Hollywood stars to innovative costume pieces that made creative use of unusual metals and materials.

With expert guides and breathtaking illustrations, this entrancing and authoritative book will appeal to specialists and general readers alike.

Laurence Mouillefarine is a journalist who has been a contributor to Madame Figaro and Architectural Digest for more than twenty years. She is the author of several books on jewelry and antiques.
Évelyne Possémé is a senior curator at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Antique Jewelry departments