René Lalique Paris, possibly enamelled by Feuillatre. Art Nouveau, c. 1895. Beautiful and rare enamel and diamond butterfly brooch. Photo courtesy Hancocks & Co
Important and rare enamel brooch in the form of a butterfly in flight its wings in polychrome enamel with a satin finish, the thorax, abdomen and antennae set with European brilliants and rose-cut diamonds and the eyes with cabochon rubies mounted in silver and yellow gold René Lalique, Paris circa 1895; 13 old and rose-cut diamonds; 2 cabochon rubies; 18ct yellow gold and silver signed Lalique with French assay and maker's marks for René Lalique. Weight 30.90gm - Length 9.00cm / 3½'. Accompanied by a purpose-made fitted case signed 'Anchorman Collection' to the lid. The Museum Garden Collection was original named The Anchorman Collection and all the smaller works had purpose made, cushioned and linen carrying cases created for them. Price £250,000 to £500,000
Literature: This brooch can be seen in 'Louis C Tiffany: The Garden Museum Collection' by Alistair Duncan p. 615 as well as further details on the Museum Garden Collection p.21 - 23.
Then part of the Anchorman Collection at 'Garden Museum's Collection' Japan.
Christies London June 2000
Christies London November 1988
Notes: The daughter of René Lalique and Alice Ledru – herself the daughter of the sculptor, Auguste Ledru, a friend of Rodin - Suzanne Lalique was regularly called upon by her father for her creativity and judgement. From 1910 onwards, she would create powder boxes and sweet boxes for him and, later, vases and other decorative pieces. Lalique-Haviland, unlike many children who work in the same field as a famous parent, apparently had no desire to imitate her father's style. Her work is as emphatically of the Art Deco style as Rene Lalique's was of Art Nouveau. Through her marriage with Paul Burty Haviland, she discovered another family of artists and came face to face with the world of porcelain. A Jill of all trades, she also brought her talent to bear in the fields of painting and textiles.
From her earliest years, she had cultivated friendships with several famous writers, including Paul Morand and Jean Giraudoux. In 1937, she was appointed to design the stage set for the play by Luigi Pirandello, Right You Are! (If You Think So), at the Comédie Française. It was the start of a long career at that prestigious theatre, during which, up to the beginning of the 1970s, Suzanne Lalique Haviland would be involved in the design, stage sets and costumes of nearly 50 plays.
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