Jewels

Haute joaillerie de céramique, les bijoux de Mithé Espelt sont de véritables œuvres d’art. Le processus  alchimique de nombreuses cuissons réussit à donner à l’or liquide l’apparence du métal et transforme les éclats et perles de verre en magnificents cabochons de pierres précieuses serties dans l’émail. Les colliers, broches et bracelets réalisés dans les années 50 (à une époque où les bijoux couture n’étaient pas fabriqués de façon industrielle) respirent le chic parisien. Celui, intemporel, d’une Rive Gauche où se croiseraient encore Line Vautrin, Louise de Vilmorin, Françoise Sagan, Brigitte Bardot ou Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, et Jacques Gautier. Toute une époque. Celle des bijoux de Mithé Espelt.

 

Mithé Espelt loved making jewellery through her entire life. As a young woman, she produced intricate ceramic buttons and jewels designed by Line Vautrin. After founding in 1946 « l’Atelier de Lunel », she conceived her own designs and was immediately hired to create the jewellery collections for luxury brand Souleiado. Contrary to the many 50’s ceramicists who produced jewellery as if it was just another product in their line, Mithé Espelt is definitely one of those exciting personalities (Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Line Vautrin, Victoire de Castellane…) who branded their hallmark on the fascinating history of 20th century jewellery. Just like with everything she made, the artist used her knowledge of baking, gilding and enamelling to ensure that not two jewels are identical. Thus, when wearing a Mithé Espelt brooch, necklace or bracelet, you are adorned with a one-of-a-kind piece of art. For further reading, the full story is related in « Mithé Espelt, the discreet luxury of the everyday », the Antoine Candau bestselling monograph.

Les amateurs trouveront sur LA BOUTIQUE du site une sélection de bijoux provenant de nos collections. Ils sont tous accompagnés d’un Certificat d’authenticité.

We are always happy to share our knowledge and expertise of Mithé Espelt’s work, and collaborate with professionals and institutions who would like to organise quality events. Get in touch.

Do you have Mithe Espelt Jewellery for sale ? Please contact us.
As Mithé Espelt never signed her work, the certificates issued (as the artist requested) by Antoine Candau offers the best guarantee of authenticity. Author of the bestselling monograph « Mithé Espelt, the discreet luxury of the everyday », he works in close collaboration with Marion de Crécy -the daughter and former assistant of the artist- to establish the « catalogue raisonné » of the Lunel atelier treasures.

The condition of the jewels is always meticulously checked, and any woven cord or elastic components that have served their time are replaced. The ceramic elements, however, are all original pieces made in the 1950s. They may show signs of wear, but the description indicates any accidents or restoration. An ultimate check is always done before shipping.
Mithé Espelt jewels come in deluxe handmade pink cardboard cases inspired by a early 1950s prototype found in the artist’s studio archives and produced in France by the renowned Ateliers Escourbiac (supplier of Armani, Boucheron, Jean-Paul Gaultier, LVMH…).

We deliver free of charges to any destination in secure packages with a tracking number and signature required upon delivery. However, any customs fees and duties remain at our customer’s charge. In case of any damage on arrival, please let us know within three days. We will replace or refund. In other cases returns cannot be accepted.

Mithé Espelt loved making jewellery through her entire life. As a young woman, she produced intricate ceramic buttons and jewels designed by Line Vautrin. After founding in 1946 « l’Atelier de Lunel », she conceived her own designs and was immediately hired to create the jewellery collections for luxury brand Souleiado. Contrary to the many 50’s ceramicists who produced jewellery as if it was just another product in their line, Mithé Espelt is definitely one of those exciting personalities (Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Line Vautrin, Victoire de Castellane…) who branded their hallmark on the fascinating history of 20th century jewellery. Just like with everything she made, the artist used her knowledge of baking, gilding and enamelling to ensure that not two jewels are identical. Thus, when wearing a Mithé Espelt brooch, necklace or bracelet, you are adorned with a one-of-a-kind piece of art. For further reading, the full story is related in « Mithé Espelt, the discreet luxury of the everyday », the Antoine Candau bestselling monograph.

Les amateurs trouveront sur LA BOUTIQUE du site une sélection de bijoux provenant de nos collections. Ils sont tous accompagnés d’un Certificat d’authenticité.

We are always happy to share our knowledge and expertise of Mithé Espelt’s work, and collaborate with professionals and institutions who would like to organise quality events. Get in touch.

Do you have Mithe Espelt Jewellery for sale ? Please contact us.

The condition of the jewels is always meticulously checked, and any woven cord or elastic components that have served their time are replaced. The ceramic elements, however, are all original pieces made in the 1950s. They may show signs of wear, but the description indicates any accidents or restoration. An ultimate check is always done before shipping.
Mithé Espelt jewels come in deluxe handmade pink cardboard cases inspired by a early 1950s prototype found in the artist’s studio archives and produced in France by the renowned Ateliers Escourbiac (supplier of Armani, Boucheron, Jean-Paul Gaultier, LVMH…).

We deliver free of charges to any destination in secure packages with a tracking number and signature required upon delivery. However, any customs fees and duties remain at our customer’s charge. In case of any damage on arrival, please let us know within three days. We will replace or refund. In other cases returns cannot be accepted.

Le luxe quotidien
d'un club privé

OUVERTURE PROCHAINE

VALUATIONS & PURCHASE

Please email us with your contact details and two pictures (front & back) of the item you wish to sell. We will get back to you within 24 hours with a valuation and eventually a proposal.

*sharing contact information outside this website is prohibited

COLLECTOR SQUARE

The Art & Collectibles department of the iconic Parisian luxury brand, collectorsquare.com, regularly creates events around Mithé Espelt’s work. They constantly offer a stunning selection of mirrors, chests and jewellery. All the objects have been authenticated by Antoine Candau.
Paris Rive Gauche – 36 boulevard Raspail – 75007 PARIS
et 24/7 online – www.collectorsquare.com
@collectorsquare
+33(0)146 34 35 31

STORE

Ouverture en ligne Janvier 2022

La boutique du site offrira prochainement aux amateurs une sélection régulièrement mise à jour de pièces exceptionnelles munies de leurs certificats d’authenticité, provenant de la collection d’Antoine Candau,
auteur de la monographie et expert de l’œuvre de Mithé Espelt.

EXPERTISES

Auteur de la monographie « Mithé espelt, le luxe discret du quotidien », Antoine Candau fait autorité sur l’œuvre de l’artiste. Son expertise est régulièrement mise à contribution par les principles maisons de vente aux enchères, et il essaye toujours de renseigner gracieusement les amateurs courtois. Pour toute information sur un objet de votre collection, nous vous remercions de renseigner la fiche jointe.

coming soon

we are still working…

Les conditions de délivrance des certificats d’authenticité sont adressées par courriel sur simple demande.

Mithé Espelt (1923–2020) is an outstanding French ceramicist who left behind a remarkable collection of jewelry, small mirrors and little treasure chests. She soon met with success but from early on, she fled the limelight and chose not to sign her creations. As a result, less discerning observers tended to attribute her work to François Lembo, Georges Jouve and even Denise Gatard.
In the early 1950s, Mithé set up a studio in Lunel, nestled between the plains of Camargue and picturesque Provence. There, she spent the next forty years nurturing an artistic project that echoed the contemporary mood. It was only when she met Antoine Candau that she agreed to reveal more about herself. He was, she said, “capable of looking beyond objects, beyond beauty…”. Together, they retraced her life and work in an inspiring monograph that reads like a gripping novel.

Antoine Candau is somewhat self-deprecating when he says that he searches for elusive pieces of art for customers who have ceased to exist. He has been a familiar figure on the art scene since the mid-1980s. He first established himself as a “talent spotter”, and a good one too, but later became more of a discreet “treasure hunter”. His finds, ranging from Middle Age marvels to contemporary design pieces, regularly ended up in the display cases of the world’s museums and art fairs, and he also ran galleries in Paris and London. But what is Antoine trying to tell us as he extols the sublime work of a 97-year-old artist who shared essential messages on happiness and the beauty in things? Is it really surprising that this art expert, renowned for unearthing budding talents, should cast new light an overlooked artist as he invites us to ponder on the workings of fame?

Les conditions de délivrance des certificats d’authenticité sont adressées par courriel sur simple demande.