The Paris Salons, 1895-1914: Jewellery, Vol. 2: The Designers L-Z

The catalogues of the Paris Salons from the turn of the century provide a unique archive of illustrations of the decorative arts at a pivotal time in their development. These volumes contain over 5,500 illustrations of items of jewellery by leading designers such as Boucheron, Chaumet and Lalique. The pictures have been sourced and re-photographed from the original and often rare catalogues. They have been rearranged alphabetically by artist-designer thus providing an indispensable and practical reference for this seminal twenty year period. They are a unique source for identification and authentication and an invaluable key both to design ideas and the jewellery of the period.

Editorial Reviews

This encyclopedic pictorial coverage of a major period in jewelry design, as represented in the four annual Paris Salons, is a unique reference tool for collectors and scholars. Including a brief overview of the changes in style and taste during this flowering of Art Nouveau within the decorative arts of France, as well as the functions of the salons, this work provides over 5000 dated illustrations (alas, most in black and white) listed by designer. Following is an index of the designers, with brief biographical data and identification of the Salons with which they were associated. Although many of the pieces may well be familiar to collectors, the author has drawn upon his many years of expertise to identify others who have not previously been known. As the first of a series treating the designers and craftsmen of this short period, this is an impressive beginning that belongs in any library serving collectors and scholars of the period as well as the general public.-Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York