Mauboussin

French jewelers, opened by Georges Mauboussin in 1923, in rue de Choisel in Paris, after a period of apprenticeship in the workshop of his uncle, Jean Baptiste Noury. He designed, worked metal, and cut and set stones. He enjoyed instant international success: firstly, with his participation at the French Exhibition held in New York in 1924, and afterwards at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris in 1925, where he was awarded a gold medal. This was consolidated with his own Paris atelier. The little room on the floor above the showroom, where he presented and sold his creations, was the scene of three memorable themed exhibitions between 1928 and 1931 dedicated, respectively, to emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. For his Art Deco jewelry, with their extraordinary range of colors, he loved to combine stones of great value with semi-precious materials, such as rock crystal, coral, onyx, and jade. During the recession, his cousin Marcel Goulet joined the firm and contributed to its commercial revival. In 1942, Marcel’s son, Jean Goulet, also joined the company, which moved to 20 Place VendÂme. Arab princes and Hollywood stars became frequent visitors to the atelier, including the Maharajah of Indore, Queen Nazli of Egypt, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo. Floral and animal-shaped jewelry was typical of Mauboussin’s production and many of his designs had a strong Oriental influence. During the 1970s, his sons, Alain and Patrick Goulet-Mauboussin, took over the reins of the company, maintaining the high level of its international fame linked, more than ever, with the exceptional quality of the stones.