Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A French Art Nouveau enamel and pearl pendant by Georges Le Turcq, circa 1900, the gold foliate pendant formed of entwined tendrils with plique-à-jour enamel gingko leaves and three pearl highlights, suspended from an unassociated cable-link chain, pendant with maker’s mark and French assay mark, pendant length 55mm. £800-£1,200

Georges Le Turcq (1859-1940) trained at Paris École des Arts Décoratifs before partnering with fellow jeweller Julien Duval in 1885. At the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle, the pair exhibited an extraordinary series of enamelled butterflies, insects and orchids alongside the acclaimed display by Tiffany & Co., of a similarly enamelled collection of twenty-five orchids. The partnership ended in 1894 and both went on to become extremely successful jewellers in their own right. Le Turcq continued to specialise in plique-à-jour enamel and worked in the characteristic Art Nouveau style inspired by Japanese design, organic form and flora. He continued to sell pieces under his own name as well as partnering with other jewellers, such as Vernier for the Faust bracelet in 1895, and creating pieces for the larger houses including Boucheron and Cartier.


Literature:
Vever, Henri (trans. Purcell Katherine), French Jewellery of the 19th Century, London, 2001.
Nadelhoffer, Hans, Cartier, pub. London, 1984.
Richard, Jean-Jacques, Georges Le Turcq: Un grand Joaillier Art Nouveau Francais, pub. London, 2015.