This strange and beautiful watch of gold, platinum, enamel, brilliant and rose-cut diamonds, sapphires, jadeite, black-backed chalcedony, pearl and silk is the work of the French firm Lacloche Frères and dates to about 1930. The contrast of the red and the black materials in this watch shows the influence of Oriental lacquer on Art Deco jewelry. This is further evidenced by the floating stylized flowers which were also a theme of textile design of the period.
Lacloche Frères were amoamong the many upmarket jewelers on the rue de la Paix in Paris. The company was initially founded in Madrid in 1875, later opening branches in Saint-Sébastien, Biarritz, and f London. One of their best-known pieces was the tiara made in 1930 for the Duchess of Westminster.
2 comments:
Lacloche Freres started around 1895 not 1875. The brothers would have been young children in 1875. Leopold born 1863, Jacques born 1865, Jules Henrie born 1867 and Fernand born 1868.
Thanks. How helpful. I'll let the curators of the V&A know that the historical information they've included with this piece is mistaken.
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