Brooch
This horizontally oriented oval brooch is bilaterally symmetrical. A center metal panel dotted with rows of small silver balls is rimmed on top and bottom by panels of enameled metal or lapis lazuli. At each end of the brooch three nesting "C" shaped strips of gold surround a large silver ball.
Jean Despres’ work was influenced by his experience designing aircraft parts during World War I. In this piece, as in much of his work, Despres combines a machine aesthetic, evident here in the allusion to ball bearings, with luxury materials. His pieces also derive from ancient Egyptian jewelry, with their gold accents and geometric forms. Despres’ work demonstrates how abstract forms and industrial design could be employed to create wearable Art Deco pieces.
Jean Despres’ work was influenced by his experience designing aircraft parts during World War I. In this piece, as in much of his work, Despres combines a machine aesthetic, evident here in the allusion to ball bearings, with luxury materials. His pieces also derive from ancient Egyptian jewelry, with their gold accents and geometric forms. Despres’ work demonstrates how abstract forms and industrial design could be employed to create wearable Art Deco pieces.
Artwork Details
- Title: Brooch
- Designer: Jean Despres (French, 1889–1980)
- Date: 1930s
- Medium: Gold, silver and enameled metal
- Dimensions: 2 × 3 1/4 × 1/2 in. (5.1 × 8.3 × 1.3 cm)
- Classification: Jewelry
- Credit Line: Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2020
- Object Number: 2021.54.12
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jean Despres
ca. 1925
Jean Despres
ca. 1935–45
Joseph Garino
ca. 1902
Jean Dupas
Jacques-Charles Champigneulle
1934
Henri Matisse
1903; this cast, probably 1930
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.