Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Art of Jewelry

Jewelry designs

 

First I want to thank you for the lovely birthday messages. You made my day with your thoughtfulness.

 

Finding old art at the brocante is always a treat. But finding art portfolio is another thing all together. A few years ago at the brocante I found just that: A nineteen century, French jewelry design portfolio.

Above are two drawings one is a bracelet design, and the other a pendant.

 

 

Jewelry desing french antiques

 

 

The design on the ring is a bee, its main body would be a precious stone. The other is a beetle of some sort holding a diamond. Interesting.

What type of jewelry do you like best? I like pearls.

Gold over silver,

Necklaces over bracelets,

Statement over delicate.

And you?

 

 

 

Bracelt design French

 

 

The bracelet in the design is intricate, delicate and if made would cost the price of a small used car, or a couple bottles of Chateau Margaux 2009.

What would you prefer:

The bracelet?

A small used car?

A couple bottles of Chateau Margaux?

or

The ability to design and draw like the above artist?

 

 

Brocante jewelry designs

 

 

This one appears to be a sword with fabric draped over it.

I am not so fond of this one. Though I admire the workmanship.

I prefer necklaces, long ones at that.

 

 

 

Antique pendant designs

Pendants French antique jewelry designs

 

 

A cameo, and a couple of drop pendant.

 

 

Antique jewelry designs brocante

 

I wonder if the designer ever saw any of her designs become pieces of jewelry? If so what stones were used, and how much they cost to produce. I wonder if any of these pieces are around, and if someone is wearing any of the today?

 

 

Comments

15 responses to “The Art of Jewelry”

  1. Marilyn

    I do love a necklace that makes a statement. It would be fun to find the actual pieces to match the sketches. But if I had to chose I would take a small “vintage” car.

    Reply
  2. Diogenes

    Corey these are fascinating. I prefer asymmetrical pieces. My favorite brand for women is Ilias Lalaounis; they make ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine styles, which today seem surprisingly modern:
    http://www.iliaslalaounis.eu/portfolio/

    Reply
  3. Jacklynn Lantry

    I would totally want to be the artist. Stunning! There is a factory in Providence (an old “junk jewelry capital of the USA) where you can buy all kinds of antique and vintage stones (chezch) and glass beads (japanese) and lots of crystals (swarovski.) It’s an amazing place. I bet your artist would have shopped there:)

    Reply
  4. Laurie SF

    Natural, chunky, and long. Layered if my neck can withstand the weight. My favorite pieces derive from the African open market in Harlem.

    Reply
  5. Roxanne

    Corey, Please make prints of these sketches on watercolor paper or good art paper and sell them for framing. They would make such a beautiful collection on a wall.

    Reply
  6. Liane

    I so love it all…except for anything with insects! And I agree with Roxanne. That would be a stunning wall.
    Happy belated birthday…may it continue all the year through!

    Reply
  7. pc brown

    Oh man, you found my heart! I adore and appreciate jewelry art! I am an artist, but there is something so intricate and marvelous to me about being able to capture what a stone or pearl would look like nestled in its safe little clasp of silver or gold. I would sit and admire these for days on end!

    Reply
  8. carol

    These are beautiful. My jewelry likes are pretty much yours but I love earrings ; and I like bracelets and long necklaces. (But like your reader , many times, the ones I like are too heavy for the neck!,) statement over delicate. Ability to design and draw!

    Reply
  9. Our French Oasis

    What an incredible find. You asked which we would want, my answer is definitely to be able to draw, my mother in law was a very talented artist who exhibited for many years in Provence and Paris, I have an ancestor who was quite a famous Victorian artist and our daughters are very talented artists, but me, I can’t draw at all, it’s a talent I simply do not have and I wish I did – I would love to set up an easel and paint or take a sketch book and capture some of the many scenes I see, but I have tried many times and I have failed many many times! Instead I have to stick to words and the camera!!!

    Reply
  10. NancyO

    Happy belated birthday!!
    Love the cameo.

    Reply
  11. Lisa Seeeney

    Are these for sale? They are beautiful!

    Reply
  12. Ali

    I love earrings and bracelets….statement pieces for sure. I love the drama of vintage jewelry.
    I value the art of writing as highly as drawing and painting…..painting with words….
    Ali

    Reply
  13. Linda P.

    Happy Belated Birthday from me, too. Gold over silver for me, definitely. Bracelets over necklaces, although my 66-year-old arms aren’t needing any accents any longer! I’m in the middle on statement versus delicate. It just depends on the piece and what I’m wearing. Truly, I’m not “good” with jewelry. Or scarves. I would be banned from living in France, I imagine.

    Reply
  14. Fi McIntosh

    Oh Corey – hello!!!
    You sold some of these to me all those years ago. I still have and covet them.
    They have been loved – totally.
    Fi x

    Reply
  15. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh Hi!!! I remember so well. Since reposting this, many people have asked about buying them. I regret I let them go, lol, because I have never found any as beautiful as those I sold you. But it gives me great pleasure knowing you still have them, and love them. Thank you for letting me know!

    Reply

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