Lot Essay
The history of Chaumet dates back to maison Nitot, the official jeweler to Napoleon during the Consulate and Empire periods. Most notable works from Nitot include Napoleon’s coronation sword, the tiara of Pope VII, and the grand parures ordered by the Empresses Josephine and Marie-Louise.
After the fall of Napoleon, the maison continued under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Fossin and his son Jules, where they succeeded in capturing the spirit of romanticism and elegance in jewelry just as Marie-Étienne and Francois Nitot had done for many years before.
In 1848, Jules Fossin joined forces with craftsman J.V. Morel and his son, Prosper. Through this partnership they established a boutique and workshop in London where Queen Victoria became a client. The firm would later claim its namesake when Prosper Morel’s daughter, Marie, married Joseph Chaumet in 1875.
Armed with an arsenal of knowledge and skill, Chaumet took over the company in 1889, simultaneously changing the name. Under his direction, the firm won accolades and awards at leading international exhibitions, such as the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, and was the jeweler to many of the Royal houses of Europe. In 1907 he moved Chaumet to the legendary location at Place Vendôme where high jewelry is still crafted to the present day.
Shifting from the gestural forms and fluidity of the Art Nouveau style, technology was advancing, innovative machinery was on the rise and jewelry of the Art Deco period began to move in the same direction. Geometric, angular, sculptural and bold are just a few of the many descriptors of Art Deco jewels. Modernist principles became the norm, and sleek, structural designs were favored.
Marcel Chaumet inherited the maison in 1928 at the height of the art deco period. Creating the more geometric fashions of the 1920s and 1930s, the maison continued to thrive.
With a focus on the highest quality of materials and extraordinary craftsmanship, Art Deco remains one of the most iconic and collectable periods of jewelry history. Alongside houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Janesich, Chaumet’s Art Deco designs are considered one of the best in the period.
Featuring Classic Colombian emeralds and step-cut diamonds, this spectacular Chaumet necklace embodies every aspect of the Art Deco movement. A polished and modern design crafted in 1930 specifically for the Rothschild family, this exceptional jewel is one of the finest examples of Art Deco jewelry.
After the fall of Napoleon, the maison continued under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Fossin and his son Jules, where they succeeded in capturing the spirit of romanticism and elegance in jewelry just as Marie-Étienne and Francois Nitot had done for many years before.
In 1848, Jules Fossin joined forces with craftsman J.V. Morel and his son, Prosper. Through this partnership they established a boutique and workshop in London where Queen Victoria became a client. The firm would later claim its namesake when Prosper Morel’s daughter, Marie, married Joseph Chaumet in 1875.
Armed with an arsenal of knowledge and skill, Chaumet took over the company in 1889, simultaneously changing the name. Under his direction, the firm won accolades and awards at leading international exhibitions, such as the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, and was the jeweler to many of the Royal houses of Europe. In 1907 he moved Chaumet to the legendary location at Place Vendôme where high jewelry is still crafted to the present day.
Shifting from the gestural forms and fluidity of the Art Nouveau style, technology was advancing, innovative machinery was on the rise and jewelry of the Art Deco period began to move in the same direction. Geometric, angular, sculptural and bold are just a few of the many descriptors of Art Deco jewels. Modernist principles became the norm, and sleek, structural designs were favored.
Marcel Chaumet inherited the maison in 1928 at the height of the art deco period. Creating the more geometric fashions of the 1920s and 1930s, the maison continued to thrive.
With a focus on the highest quality of materials and extraordinary craftsmanship, Art Deco remains one of the most iconic and collectable periods of jewelry history. Alongside houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Janesich, Chaumet’s Art Deco designs are considered one of the best in the period.
Featuring Classic Colombian emeralds and step-cut diamonds, this spectacular Chaumet necklace embodies every aspect of the Art Deco movement. A polished and modern design crafted in 1930 specifically for the Rothschild family, this exceptional jewel is one of the finest examples of Art Deco jewelry.