The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

From the mid-1930s through the 1940s, the collaboration of the American jewelry firm Trabert & Hoeffer with the Parisian house Mauboussin produced some of the most extraordinary high-style jewels of its time. Hollywood stars such as Claudette Colbert and Marlene Dietrich appeared on-screen and off flashing the firm’s historic gems mounted in diamond-studded platinum settings. Even during the Depression and World War II, Trabert & Hoeffer–Mauboussin prospered and expanded across the country, not only by continuing to supply stylish custom jewelry to celebrities and socialites, but also by marketing more affordable ornaments. Its best -known invention was the Reflection line of semi-custom jewelry—"Your personality in a jewel." Crafted from interchangeable parts, it made a bold new modern look available to a wider range of customers by allowing them to mix and match preconstructed parts with their own choice of gemstones. Drawing on historical sources that include part of the firm’s design archives, now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this book tells a story of design and marketing innovations, shrewd business decisions and adaptability to changing times that produced a legacy of dazzling jewels.

1301144856
The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

From the mid-1930s through the 1940s, the collaboration of the American jewelry firm Trabert & Hoeffer with the Parisian house Mauboussin produced some of the most extraordinary high-style jewels of its time. Hollywood stars such as Claudette Colbert and Marlene Dietrich appeared on-screen and off flashing the firm’s historic gems mounted in diamond-studded platinum settings. Even during the Depression and World War II, Trabert & Hoeffer–Mauboussin prospered and expanded across the country, not only by continuing to supply stylish custom jewelry to celebrities and socialites, but also by marketing more affordable ornaments. Its best -known invention was the Reflection line of semi-custom jewelry—"Your personality in a jewel." Crafted from interchangeable parts, it made a bold new modern look available to a wider range of customers by allowing them to mix and match preconstructed parts with their own choice of gemstones. Drawing on historical sources that include part of the firm’s design archives, now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this book tells a story of design and marketing innovations, shrewd business decisions and adaptability to changing times that produced a legacy of dazzling jewels.

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The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

The Jewels of Trabert Hoeffer-Mauboussin: A History of American Style and Innovation

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Overview

From the mid-1930s through the 1940s, the collaboration of the American jewelry firm Trabert & Hoeffer with the Parisian house Mauboussin produced some of the most extraordinary high-style jewels of its time. Hollywood stars such as Claudette Colbert and Marlene Dietrich appeared on-screen and off flashing the firm’s historic gems mounted in diamond-studded platinum settings. Even during the Depression and World War II, Trabert & Hoeffer–Mauboussin prospered and expanded across the country, not only by continuing to supply stylish custom jewelry to celebrities and socialites, but also by marketing more affordable ornaments. Its best -known invention was the Reflection line of semi-custom jewelry—"Your personality in a jewel." Crafted from interchangeable parts, it made a bold new modern look available to a wider range of customers by allowing them to mix and match preconstructed parts with their own choice of gemstones. Drawing on historical sources that include part of the firm’s design archives, now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this book tells a story of design and marketing innovations, shrewd business decisions and adaptability to changing times that produced a legacy of dazzling jewels.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780878468119
Publisher: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Publication date: 05/31/2014
Pages: 134
Product dimensions: 5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Director's Foreword vii

The Business of American Modern Design Nonie Gadsden 1

A Fascination with Gems Yvonne J. Markowitz 13

The Glamour of High-Style Jewels Yvonne J. Markowiu 27

Jewels on the Silver Screen Elizabeth Irvine Bray 37

Reflection-Your Personality in a Jewel Yvonne J. Markowitz 55

Creative Vision Elizabeth Hamilton 65

Location, Location, Location Frederic A. Sharf 79

Timeline 99

Glossary Toni Strassler 109

Notes 111

Illustration Credits 121

Acknowledgments 125

Contributors 127

Index 129

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