Synopsis
During the second half of the nineteenth century, Paris was the scene of an extraordinary flowering of jewelry design and manufacture. Many of the internationally famous houses opened their doors in that period: Falize in 1840, Cartier in 1847, Boucheron in 1858, Fouquet in 1860, Lalique in 1885. Prominent among these was the house of Falize, which, until its close in 1936, was recognized as one of the most meticulous and tasteful of jewelers and goldsmiths. Its history is a tale of three generations: the founder Alexis; his son Lucien, who ran the enterprise in its most illustrious period; and finally Lucien's three talented sons, who continued the tradition into the twentieth century as Falize Frares. In recent years, Falize has been rediscovered, and its jewels and objects can be found at auction sales fetching handsome prices. The relative rarity and quality of the pieces make them highly valued, as do their intriguing associations. During the company's heyday, when it was ensconced at a smart address in the Avenue de l'Opera, it counted among its illustrious customers Empress Eugenie, the Imperial Russian family, Sarah Bernhardt, Queen Marie of Rumania, Colette, and many others.
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About the Author
Katherine Purcell is a Director of Wartski, the London firm specialising in antique jewelry, eighteenth-century gold boxes and the work of Carl Faberge.
Reviews
The name Falize is less well known today than at the turn of the century, when it was in the same league as Faberg?, Lalique, and Cartier. In catering to European nobility, aristocracy, and wealthy bourgeoisie, these goldsmiths created clocks, watches, bibelots, and ceremonial sword hilts in addition to necklaces, pins, bracelets, and other decorations for fashionable ladies. This thoroughly researched study by Purcell, a director of Wartski of London, accompanies a current exhibition of Falize artifacts at Wartski. With the cooperation of the last surviving Falize, Purcell shows never-before-seen sketches and drawings of designs for gorgeous, typically Victorian jewelry. The life stories and accomplishments of three generations of the House of Falize, from the mid-19th century until its closing in 1936, are brilliantly supported by over 400 excellent black-and-white and color illustrations. The first book devoted entirely to the firm of Falize, this is highly recommended for serious collections on jewelry, costume history, and decorative artsAthough the steep price will keep it out of reach of many.ATherese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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