French jewelry company Lacloche Freres
French jewelry company Lacloche Freres
The illustrious history of the family business Lacloche began more than one hundred years ago. Initially, three Lacloche brothers individually owned several stores in France and Spain, but in 1901 they officially united under the name “Lacloche Frères”.
First, they settled in the very center of Paris at 15 Rue de la Paix. Three years later they moved to London and then to Spain, Argentina and Egypt. Their collaborations with many of the finest jewelers of the era have produced masterpieces in a wide variety of styles, including the stylish Egyptian and East Asian Art Deco.
Known for elegant designs and exquisite craftsmanship, Lacloche jewelry and accessories (dressing tables, cigarette cases) embody the spirit of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
The family business run by four generation jewelers, their products have adorned many crowned heads. In particular, Queen Victoria of Spain, Duchess of Westminster, Kings of Greece and Siam, and Grace Kelly.
Marked “Lacloche Frères”, then “Jacques Lacloche”, the jewelry was created in the best workshops in Paris – Langlois, Péry, Rubel, and Strauss Allard et Meyer ou Verger.
French jewelry company Lacloche Freres
While several well-known jewelry houses, including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, have also crafted jewelry in these styles, Lacloche Egyptian renaissance jewelry stands out for its sophistication. Their products of the 1920s are distinguished by bright colors and geometric lines. These are lacquered and enameled cigarette cases and cosmetic cases, decorated with diamonds and precious stones that form various motifs. At the 1925 exhibition, along with Chinese-inspired jewelry, Lacloche presented a series of “narrative” style rectangular pendants depicting La Fontaine’s fables in simple geometric lines, with colored gemstones on a diamond background. Egyptian and naturalistic motifs were also characteristic of the products of the House of Lacloche in the 1920s.
One of the greatest gems of Paris, Lacloche designs vary from the Belle Epoque to the haute couture of 1960s.