- It was established in 1901 at 15 Rue de la Paix.
Lacloche Frères made its home at this address in the Parisian jewelry district, on the corner of Rue Daunou. This postcard from about 1910 illustrates the historic building. Rue de la Paix, which runs into Place Vendôme, has accommodated a number of prominent jewelry maisons over the years, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Mellerio, and Poiray.
- It thrived on Art Deco.
The heyday of creativity for Lacloche Frères was in the 1920s. The company produced some of the finest and most inventive jewelry, clocks and ladies’ accessories of thae Art Deco period. This exquisite bracelet, dated 1925, comprises diamonds, onyx and cabochon rubies. From tiaras and colorful gem-set jabot pins to mother-of-pearl inlaid clocks and vanity cases, Lacloche Frères sold superb examples of all the different genres.
- It was no stranger to the era’s Egyptomania trend.
This craze for Egyptian culture took hold in the 1920s after British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. These drop earrings in platinum with rubies, emeralds and diamonds,
circa 1925, were among Lacloche Frères’ contributions.
- Kings, queens and other royals were on its client list.
Lacloche Frères created jewelry for royal and aristocratic figures, including Loelia Ponsonby, duchess of Westminster, shown here as photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1931. Other clients included Queen Victoria of Spain, Britain’s King Edward VII, the kings of Greece and Siam, and Hollywood stars like Grace Kelly.
For more information
“Lacloche Jewelers, 1892-1967” runs through December 20 at Paris’s L’Ecole School of Jewelry Arts. A book entitled
Lacloche Joailliers has been published to coincide with the event, recounting the story of the company. The exhibition’s curator, journalist and art market specialist Laurence Mouillefarine, co-authored the book with archivist and iconographer Véronique Ristelhueber.
Image: Photo Tony FalconeArticle from the Rapaport Magazine - November 2019. To subscribe click here.