Travail français d’époque Art Déco - Lot 63

Travail français d’époque Art Déco Paper-knife in silver 800 thousandths, the handle formed by a Chinese jade staple decorated with dragons, the attachment highlighted by a stylized palmette motif with blue and green enameled steps. Diamond-shaped hallmark of the Atelier René BRUNO. Total length: 26cm. P. Gross weight : 138 g. During the Art Deco period, Far Eastern art, particularly Chinese and Japanese, was a major source of inspiration for the jewelers of Place Vendôme. In addition to borrowing models of figures and ornaments, it is not uncommon to find, in jewelry as in other areas of the decorative arts, the incorporation of pre-existing artifacts set within contemporary pieces with oriental influences. Our paper-knife, for example, features an antique Chinese jade belt clip as its handle. This example of juxtaposition is far from isolated, as Cartier used a similar Chinese belt clip to create a brooch mounted in enamelled platinum and enhanced with diamonds and sapphires. Bibliography: RUDOE J., Cartier 1900-1939, Paris, Somogy, 1997, pp. 194-195.