As one of the 20th century’s most gifted artists, Jean Schlumberger is renowned for his fantastical creations infused with wit and curiosity. With extraordinary gemstones as his palette, he transformed nature’s wonders into objects of mesmerising beauty, and strong, sculptural designs into magnificent bejewelled statements—unrivaled in the world of jewellery design.
Born into a prominent family of textile manufacturers in Alsace, France, Jean Schlumberger (1907–1987) eventually landed in New York City. In 1956 he was hired by Tiffany & Co. chairman Walter Hoving as a vice president of the company. A special design studio and salon were decorated to the designer’s specifications; and with an unlimited supply of the finest coloured stones now at his fingertips, Schlumberger created some of the most incredible jewellery designs of his career.
As a superb draftsman, Schlumberger began each design with a drawing to discover the purity and grace of the natural forms that caught his eye. He also often traveled to Bali, India and Thailand to fire his imagination, which influenced the energetic and dynamic quality of his work.
As a passionate innovator, Schlumberger has received numerous honours and awards in the world of art and fashion. He was the first jewellery designer to win the coveted Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award in 1958; and, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris—which houses Schlumberger’s original designs—honoured him with a retrospective entitled “Un Diamant dans la Ville” in 1995. This posthumous tribute marked only the third time a jewellery designer had been honoured by the museum.
In his later years, Jean Schlumberger returned to Paris, the city that awakened his artistic soul. He died in 1987, at the age of 80, leaving a legacy of bejewelled creations of wonder and magnificence.
