Page 63 - Demo

What style of jewellery do you like the most?
My answer covers three periods. The time of Napoleon III, before 1900, for its wealth of materials and the signi- ficant use of gold, silver and especially diamond. For a bit of background, you have to imagine that during this period, people lit their homes by candle. At night, people would go to the ball dressed in their most beautiful pieces that would dazzle brightly in the light. This has always fascinated me. Then there’s the Art Nouveau period, between 1895 and 1910. Here I’m
more fascinated by the fluid curves, how delicate and gentle the pieces appear. It’s inspired by nature, flora and fauna. For the third, I choose the Art Deco era from 1915 to 1935. They are much more modern inspirations led by restraint, and the simplicity of their original geometric forms.
You also have a collection of gouaches from the Art Deco pe- riod, correct?
Yes, correct. This collection of gouaches was on display at La Piscine museum in Roubaix, from February
to March 2018. The drawings were mainly from this period; many were previously unseen.
To finish, do you believe that all pieces of jewellery have a history? Yes, I think that all jewellery has a history – a sentimental one. Jewellery is often given as a gift for a birthday, an inheritance or a birth... they’re laden with memories. When I’m requested to authenticate a period piece of jewellery, I realise that for the customer, the most important value is
its sentimental worth.
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Anonyme, maquette pour bijoux,1930, collection Dael & Grau