Art history of jewelry

Art Nouveau: Astonishing Jewels - From School to Museum (4h)

Art nouveau Full

This course will be available again in Summer 2025.

Discover the history and creations of a disruptively innovative artistic movement, which, at the dawn of the 20th century, forever changed the Jewelry Arts.

The culmination of the course is a visit  to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Galerie des Bijoux, whose collection of Art Nouveau jewelry is one of the most important in the world.

 

Starting from jewelry creations of the famous René Lalique, Vever, Fouquet, and many other less-known jewelers, you will decode the Art Nouveau style. The professors will help you appreciate the audacious innovations of these visionaries, while placing this movement in the context of an era of great transformations, the “Belle Époque”.

Special Offer: Discovery Series

About the Course

Sensuality, femininity, softness of colors and curves, but also extraordinary creatures…Enter into the vision of the world particular to artist-jewelers of the beginning of the 20th century.

Art Nouveau marked a turning point in the history of art and of jewelry, by offering a radically different aesthetic. Only the historical, economic and social conditions of this very unique period could allow this unusual blossoming.

We also offer a 2-hour version of this course, focused only on an introduction of the history of Art Nouveau jewelry: "Art Nouveau: Astonishing Jewels". In 4 hours, the course "Art Nouveau: Astonishing Jewels - From School to Museum", includes the knowledge covered in the course "Art Nouveau: Astonishing Jewels"; it is therefore not recommended for the same person to take both courses.

Insolites bijoux Art nouveau

Maison-Vever_-Pendentif-_Sylvia__-Paris_-1900.png

Maison Vever, Pendentif Sylvia, Paris, 1900

© MAD
Boucle de ceinture_Boutet de Monvel_Vers 1902_Collection L'École des Arts Joailliers. Photo Benjamin Chelly (2)

Belt Buckle, Boutet de Monvel, Circa 1902, School of Jewelry Arts Collection, Photo Benjamin Chelly

Henri Vever, La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle (1800-1900) Volume III, la Troisième République, 1906 (6)

Henri Vever, La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle (1800-1900) Volume III, la Troisième République, 1906

Henri Vever, La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle (1800-1900) Volume III, la Troisième République, 1906 (11)

Henri Vever, La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle (1800-1900) Volume III, la Troisième République, 1906, page n°273

Samuel Bing, Le Japon artistique  documents d'art et d'industrie, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888

Samuel Bing, Le Japon artistique : documents d'art et d'industrie, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888

Samuel Bing, Le Japon artistique documents d'art et d'industrie, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888 (7)

Extracted from the book "Le Japon artistique documents d'art et d'industrie" by Samuel Bing, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888

Samuel Bing, Le Japon artistique documents d'art et d'industrie, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888 (11)

Extracted from the book "Le Japon artistique documents d'art et d'industrie" by Samuel Bing, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1888

Tsuba, made by Yoshihisa, Collection L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Photo Benjamin Chelly (3)

Tsuba, made by Yoshihisa, Collection L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Photo Benjamin Chelly

René Lalique, Medal of the First World War (1914-1918)

René Lalique, Medal of the First World War (1914-1918), Photo Benjamin Chelly

Sit back and relax

  • This course is conducted by two art historians
  • You are welcomed by your teachers before the class starts: a chance to meet each other and share experiences.
  • You don’t need to bring any specific material.
  • A certificate is given at the end of the class.
  • Participate in "A History of Jewelry, from Louis XIV to Art Deco", to deepen your knowledge of jewelry's evolution.
  • After each class, teachers deliver a list of books, podcasts, websites, museums related to the course attended.

Take the full series for a special rate

High-quality education

L'ÉCOLE as education and research center has a scientific council.
 

A very unique faculty

All the teachers are passionate experts chosen for their enthusiasm and skill in transmitting their knowledge.
 

Generosity

Skills are presented with ease in an enjoyable way, hands-on experience, and dialogue. Classes are for everyone with no pre-requisites.
 

Exclusive interaction

Courses are delivered in small groups to allow students to discuss one-on-one with the experts.
 

Initiation courses

On an “à la carte” basis courses offered to all those who want to learn and become enlightened amateurs.