Henri Vever: French Jewelry of the Nineteenth Century

Vever's La Bijouterie Française au XIXe Siècle: The Definitive English Translation

Description:

Vever's La Bijouterie Française au XIXe Siècle is a seminal work in the study of French jewelry, first published in France between 1906 and 1908. Often regarded as the definitive reference for jewelry experts, collectors, and historians, this book has long been considered a treasure trove of knowledge about 19th-century French jewelry. Originally limited to just 1,000 copies, it has been out of print for many years and now appears only sporadically at auction, often commanding high prices.

This volume represents the first complete English translation of Vever’s influential text. It includes over 1,400 illustrations, comprising photographs, sketches, and prints from fashion magazines, which vividly depict the intricate beauty of French jewelry from the period. Notably, this edition features 136 color photographs of jewels that are housed in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, offering a fresh visual perspective previously unavailable to English-speaking audiences.

The book covers a broad spectrum of jewelers, from the renowned to the more obscure, such as Alphonse Fouquet, Boucheron, Falize, Froment-Maurice, Cartier, Chaumet, Georges Fouquet, Gaillard, Vever himself, Lalique, and many others. Each jeweler’s work is meticulously documented, providing insights into their contributions to the craft and their place in the broader context of jewelry history.

In addition to detailed descriptions of individual pieces and types of jewelry, Vever’s text is enriched with engaging anecdotes about the jewelers’ relationships with their clients and society. Henri Vever, a jeweler himself, provides a unique level of authenticity and personal insight into the world of 19th-century French jewelry. His direct interactions with the individuals he writes about or their successors lend the book a rare and authoritative perspective.

Vever's La Bijouterie Française au XIXe Siècle is an essential addition to any serious collector's library, offering unparalleled access to the elegance and innovation of French jewelry design during a pivotal era.