There are some jewelers whose work will forever be instantly recognizable, even decades after it was created. Jacques Lenfant is certainly one of them. The son of highly regarded French jeweler Georges Lenfant—who worked at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels before growing his own brand—joined the family business at age 11, years later taking the lead.
Known for his innovative, bold gold designs, Jacques Lenfant is responsible for some iconic pieces from the 1950s to the 1970s, and now one of them, the Tissu Milanais bracelet (pictured above) from the Optical collection, is available at Hancocks London. It can be yours for just over $78,000—but with such a legacy behind it, the bracelet should appreciate over time.
“Jacques Lenfant was fascinated by the art of the goldsmith, and one of the techniques that has become so distinctively Lenfant is seen in this bracelet, which involved incredible workmanship to create a fabric-like, woven effect, the gold mesh hammered to create the pattern and design,” said Hancocks London’s managing director, Guy Burton, in a statement. “Lenfant pieces are characterized by their unfaultable quality workmanship.
“Tissu milanais” refers to the technique used in making the 18k yellow gold bracelet, which dates to the 1970s and is priced by Hancocks at £65,000—approximately $78,470. Lenfant designed the piece with particular attention to chains—something his father mastered—patterns, textures, and shapes. It was featured in Jacques Lenfant’s book Le Livre de la Chaîne as a reference, to be studied, replicated, and reinterpreted by future jewelers.
“A bracelet from the Optical collection is rare to find,” Burton said, “and the craftsmanship embodies the beauty of Lenfant jewels, showcasing exactly why they are so collectible and sought after today.”
(Photo courtesy of Hancocks London)
Follow me on Instagram: @anniedavidsonwatson
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
