Jean Després, Master of French Art Deco and Modernistic Jewelry

Jean Després (1889-1980) was an Art Deco jewellery designer whose name epitomises the most dynamic styles of the 20th century. This definitive celebration of his work will delight both new admirers and seasoned connoisseurs alike. Capturing the streamlined, modern aesthetic of the machine age and transforming it into objects of great beauty, Després has always been the jeweller of choice for informed collectors and insiders. Josephine Baker was an early admirer, and Andy Warhol’s collection was sold at Sotheby’s, New York, in 1988.

As a young man, Després came to know avant-garde artists in Paris, including Léger, De Chirico, and Braque. After the outbreak of war in 1914, he worked on the industrial design of aeroplanes, transferring this experience and inspiration into the jewellery business. Després used geometric motifs in his designs and, in the 1930s, embarked on a notable collaboration with the glass painter Étienne Cournault. He went on to create a range of tableware and decorative objects in gold, silver, and pewter, whose bold, industrial looks were uncompromisingly modern, yet always graceful and refined.

From: Jean Després Jeweler, Maker and Designer of the Machine Age by Melissa Gabardi, ISBN 9780500514788

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‍Click here to learn more about this Art Deco silver cross signed Després‍