The Paris Salons, 1895-1914: v.1: Jewellery Designers A-K

Description

The decorative arts of a brief period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reflect the mood of the times - reaction was in the air and the result was a vogue for the ornamental style known as 'art noveau', a style characterised by naturalism, sinuous lines, asymmetrical forms and excellence in craftsmanship, and one which has been reassessed and rehabilitated in the latter part of the 20th century. A European phenomenon, the French led the field and the catalogues of the Paris Salons over a twenty year period illustrate work by such artists as Boucheron, Chaumet, Galle and Lalique. It is these catalogue illustrations which make up this unique pictorial encyclopaedia and bring together a record of the outstanding and imaginative work of art noveau artists and craftsmen by subject. Volume I comprises some 3,000 illustrations of jewellery by designers A-K; (L-Z) containing over 2,500 illustrations will be published shortly after Volume 1.

Alastair Duncan is a consultant on 19th and 20th century decorative arts to Christie's, New York, He is author of books, catalogues and articles on this and related subjects and one of the world's foremost authorities on the subject of Art Nouveau.