Le Bijou Dessiné

The design of jewellery has long remained hidden from view and the public. Functional or bearers of unfulfilled dreams, since the 15th century these paper jewels have nevertheless been the unrevealed aspect of the models to which they have often given birth.

This book presents a hundred drawings, mainly from the Van Cleef & Arpels Fund on Jewelery Culture, ranging from the second half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. It allows for the first time to shed light on this completely unknown part of the decorative arts, in which anonymous craftsmen or artists rub shoulders with the great figures of jewellery, Tiffany, Lalique, Vever, or renowned workshops such as Paillet, Brédillard and Mellerio, and Borgnis.

Through the study of its technique, its authors or its use, the book, which accompanies the exhibition at the École des arts joailliers, from 6 October 2021, allows us to grasp the issues such as the richness of this support, both a tool, an archival document and a true work of art.

Text in English and French.