The Pearl, Queen of Art Deco (In-Person Conversation)

During the Art Deco period (1910-1939), the Pearl was the Queen! Art Deco captivated the world at the same time as Paris was shining as City of Pearls. 

With its shape, color and even its symbolism, the pearl was the ideal icon for the modern woman of the era who was declaring and claiming her newly earned rights: freedom to change and to live life as she chose, to work, to create, to dance. In the world of liberated flappers and jazz, with the powerful graphism of Art Deco, pitting the stark black against the white in contrast, pearls played a leading role.

This talk will take you on a journey through Paris, New York and Tokyo at a very special time in history, when women adorned themselves profusely with pearls in a veritable “perlomania”!

In-Person Conversation:
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Welcome Reception
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Conversation in English
@L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts Dubai,
Dubai Design District, Building 10, Ground Floor, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Speakers:
With Dr. David Usieto Cabrera, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Dubai
& Chandra Horn, Gemologist and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Dubai

Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels, vanity case, circa 1925, Gold, pearls, enamel, diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels Collection 

Brought together by their curiosity and love of jewelry culture, speakers and listeners are invited to meet at a cocktail reception preceding the talk. Often initiated during this convivial moment, exchanges prove to be as spontaneous as they are instructive. They continue to grow throughout the talk, which is organized around L'ÉCOLE's three main pillars: the History of Jewelry, the World of Gemstones and the Savoir-Faire. 

Participating in these conversations hosted by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts allows you to join a community of curious enthusiasts eager to discover and learn.