JEAN DESPRES by Gabardi, Melissa - 2009: Jeweler, Maker and Designer of the Machine Age.

NY/London: Thames & Hudson, 2009. 1st. Hardcover. Hardcover in a bright dust jacket. Jean Després (1889–1980) was an Art Deco designer who captured the streamlined, modern aesthetic of the age of the machine and transformed it into objects of great beauty. As a young man, Després became acquainted with avant-garde artists in Paris, including Modigliani, de Chirico, and Braque, and, after the outbreak of war in 1914, he worked on the industrial design of airplanes. He later transferred this experience and inspiration to his family’s jewelry business, where he became known for his innovative geometric patterns. He also created a wide range of tableware and decorative objects in gold, silver, and pewter, whose bold, industrial looks were uncompromisingly modern, yet always graceful and refined. Many drawings and designs are reproduced here for the first time, and original photographs are complemented by a number of new photographs taken especially for the book. Després has always been the jeweler… Read More

Hardcover. New.