MAKER SPOTLIGHT
JEAN SCHLUMBERGER
JEAN SCHLUMBERGER
Master of Whimsy
Equal parts modernist and surrealist, Jean Schlumberger (1907 – 1987) was one of the most forward-thinking jewelers of the 20th century. From his early work with fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, where he first designed fanciful buttons and later costume jewelry, to his storied 30 year career at Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger created iconic and timeless pieces for the world’s most stylish women.
Rooted in the visual language of French surrealism, but with a distinctly whimsical flair, Schlumberger was drawn to natural and organic forms, particularly the exoticism of marine life. His creativity flourished at Tiffany, where he had access to their inventory of the finest stones and where his imagination was given free reign. His work gained a loyal following among the era’s notable tastemakers including Diana Vreeland, Jackie Kennedy and Bunny Mellon.
With a keen color sense and a desire to capture “the irregularity of the universe,” Schlumberger’s jewels stand out as singular design statements. Today his pieces, particularly those created before his death, are avidly collected as personal statements of self-expression and the wearable works of art they are.
