The Fouquet Legacy begins with a man named Alphonse Fouquet, a Parisian who studied as a apprentice at a workshop in 1839. His abilities soon led him to set up his own shop in 1852 and so started the Fouquet legacy.
Soon Alphonse Fouquet had his own jewellery company and in 1878 attends the Exposition Universelle which cements his creditability among the jewellery world. The Exposition Universelle was an exposition for people from around the world to showcase there talents, among the pieces on show the same year Alphonse was there was the completed head of the Statue of Liberty which now stands on Staten Island outside of New York City.
The fair was held on the banks of the River Seine in a specially built palace and had over 13 million people attend.
By 1891 George, Alphonse's son had joined the company making jewellery and would go on to eclipse his fathers success. Alphonse later retired in 1895.
George surrounded his self with the most famous of jewellers and collaborated with them on several occasions. It was his collaborations with Alphonse Mucha that he is most famous for and over many years they worked together. Mucha would design the pieces and George would make them, this formula worked well and they got many high level commissions from the elite.
George Fouquet and Alphonse Mucha where on a high and decided to move to a new headquarters in 1901.
In 1914 up until the start of world war 1 on 28th July George Fouquet was busy collaborating with designers like Charles Desrosiers making pieces such as the picture below.
Unfortunately after a disastrous teaming up with the couturier Jean Patou, which saw Fouquet Jewellery displayed along side Patou's fashion, the Fouquet business had to file for bankruptcy in 1930. The financial crisis of 1929 the year before had been just to much for the young business venture.
However this isn't the end of the Fouquet's jewellery and in 1937 the French government ordered two bracelets with earrings from George Fouquet. These items can be seen today in the musee des Art Decoratifs in Paris.
After World War 2 jean continued to outsource his talents as a designer and as a maker of jewellery and George continued to work until his death in 1957.
Jean became a lecturer in 1952 for the Ecole Nationale des arts Decoratifs.
He continued to exhibit pieces until a severe illness stopped him.
Later in 1961 at the Victoria and Albert Museum's exhibition of international Modern Jewellery 1890- 1961 exhibits where made of both George and Jeans work and featured as an important part.
Alphonse Fouquet
The fair was held on the banks of the River Seine in a specially built palace and had over 13 million people attend.
Exposition Universelle 1878
George surrounded his self with the most famous of jewellers and collaborated with them on several occasions. It was his collaborations with Alphonse Mucha that he is most famous for and over many years they worked together. Mucha would design the pieces and George would make them, this formula worked well and they got many high level commissions from the elite.
Designed by A Mucha, made by G Fouquet
It was this alliance with the artist that would take George to the Bosnia- Herzegovina pavilion at the world fair in Paris, then to the Expostion Universelle, the fair his father had gained so much acclaim with earlier.George Fouquet and Alphonse Mucha where on a high and decided to move to a new headquarters in 1901.
In 1914 up until the start of world war 1 on 28th July George Fouquet was busy collaborating with designers like Charles Desrosiers making pieces such as the picture below.
Designed by C Desrosiers, made by G Fouquet
After World War 1, George's son Jean joined the family legacy and joined the Fouquet company. As a former student of Classical Literature jean became interested in a new movement of modern design which would be shown in all it's glory in the 1925 Expostion des Art Decoratifs et Industriels. It was at this fair the term Art Deco was first used to describe the period.
The Fouquet's knew they had to exhibit at this fair and ended up getting significant mention for being there. Especially Jean who with his Egyptian themed pieces fitting in perfectly with the art deco movement.
Designed by J Fouquet
Unfortunately after a disastrous teaming up with the couturier Jean Patou, which saw Fouquet Jewellery displayed along side Patou's fashion, the Fouquet business had to file for bankruptcy in 1930. The financial crisis of 1929 the year before had been just to much for the young business venture.
However this isn't the end of the Fouquet's jewellery and in 1937 the French government ordered two bracelets with earrings from George Fouquet. These items can be seen today in the musee des Art Decoratifs in Paris.
After World War 2 jean continued to outsource his talents as a designer and as a maker of jewellery and George continued to work until his death in 1957.
Jean became a lecturer in 1952 for the Ecole Nationale des arts Decoratifs.
He continued to exhibit pieces until a severe illness stopped him.
Later in 1961 at the Victoria and Albert Museum's exhibition of international Modern Jewellery 1890- 1961 exhibits where made of both George and Jeans work and featured as an important part.
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