Modernist pendant by Jean Deprés

Jean Deprés (1889 -1980) was a French jewelry designer known for his ingenious Art Deco jewelry made from gemstones, machine parts and enamel. His style is greatly influenced by his friendships with avant-garde artists. Despres' father owned a jewelry shop and at the age of sixteen he sent his son to apprentice with a goldsmith in Paris. In the evenings he studied design and in his spare time he was in the Montmartre scene, hanging out with Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and others. During the First World War, Després designed aircraft parts for the government, after which his jewelry was influenced by the practical materials and shapes he had seen in the factories. Després' works were collected and worn by celebrities such as Josephine Baker, Andy Warhol, Paul Signac, and Andre Malraux. His work can be found in the collections of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Signed: J. Deprés.