STYLE Edit: L’École, School of Jewellery Arts presents the history of Lacloche – discover the forgotten Paris jewellers beloved by European royals and Hollywood stars
In 1892, a maison opened in Paris that would go on to write its name in giant, glittering letters across the history of high jewellery, becoming the choice of royalty and celebrity, before gradually fading from view in the latter part of the 20th century. Now, thanks to the exhibition “Lacloche, Parisian Jewellers, 1892-1967”, hosted online by L’École, School of Jewellery Arts, jewellery lovers in Hong Kong and beyond have a rare chance to acquaint themselves with some of that maison’s most spectacular creations.
One of the world’s most important jewellery houses in the first half of the last century, Lacloche initially came to prominence in 1901, when it opened its first boutique, on Paris’ Rue de la Paix, which runs north from the iconic Place Vendôme, home to the flagship boutiques of several other legendary jewellers.
Over the following decades, it carved out a stellar reputation for jewellery that combined creative innovation, glamour and sophistication in equal measure, becoming a favourite among everyone from European royalty to Hollywood stars. In particular, it gained widespread recognition for its exquisite modernist art deco pieces, alongside equally beautiful art nouveau, chinoiserie and Egyptian revival work.
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The maison disappeared for good in 1967, but its reputation has lived on among discerning lovers of fine jewellery, as have many of its most notable pieces.
The current exhibition pulls together more than 40 of those coveted creations, with a line-up that includes jewellery items, clocks, watches, compacts and vanity cases, and that features 11 pieces making their public debut. Among the highlights are several creations that owe their inspiration to East Asia, including a spectacular 1920s platinum and white gold bracelet decorated in a delicate pattern picked out in rubies, emeralds, obsidian and diamonds; and a platinum and gold Imperial doors vanity case, also from the 1920s, embellished with lacquer, jade and diamonds.
The exhibition’s curator, historian and journalist Laurence Mouillefarine performed what she describes as “detective work” to piece together the relatively small amount of archival material available on Lacloche. That material has been used to put together a monograph, “Lacloche Joailliers”, that accompanies the exhibition.
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L’École, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, is a unique educational institution that offers courses in the jewellery arts to members of the industry and the general public alike. It was originally established in Paris in 2012, with Hong Kong becoming its only other permanent home in 2019. The current exhibition, the fourth to be staged by the Hong Kong school, is part of a series of celebrations around the world to mark L’École’s 10th anniversary.
- The storied high jewellery maison of Lacloche, which ran from the French capital from 1892 to 1967, is celebrated with an online exhibition presented by L’École, School of Jewellery Arts
- Curator Laurence Mouillefarine has pulled together more than 40 historic pieces – including jewellery items, clocks, watches and compacts – all making their public debut