Visual Inspiration: Contemporary French Jewelry at Musée des Arts Décoratifs

I’m always in the relentless pursuit of visual stimulation and beautiful things that inspire me and translate into my work and what I do for my clients.  The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris is a place to discover and rediscover several times because the exhibits are always so cool and the museum isn’t overwhelming or unmanageable for a relatively short visit. 

This time, I was thrilled to see the juxtaposition of contemporary French jewelry in old and new settings where the newest creations of these talented designers were inserted in the Museum’s permanent furniture and object collections of Medieval/ Renaissance, 17th/18th Century, 19th Century, Art Nouveau/Art Deco, Modern and Contemporary. 

Alexandre Keller's installation 

Detail of Alexandre Keller's fantastic installation 

This panorama of contemporary French creation shows how jewelry and its role are changing today, in its daring, often spectacular formal experimentation, “questioning” of the contemporary body and identification of new social behaviors.

My favorite installation was the reproduction of Jean Lanvin’s apartment -which has the original 1920s furniture she owned- and her boudoir, where mannequins were strategically placed and dramatically covered head to toe in Lanvin’s latest jewelry collection – by far one of the best of this season. 

Lanvin's installation was aptly displayed in a reproduction of Jean Lanvin's 1920s boudoir 

The brand new collection of Lanvin's jewelry is shown here next to a 1920s loveseat designed by Armand-Albert Rateau

Dramatic and impactful Lanvin