EUGÈNE FEUILLÂTRE - Lot 219

EUGÈNE FEUILLÂTRE Eugène Feuillâtre (1870-1916), a pupil of enameller Louis Houillon, was one of the great masters masters of this discipline as early as 1890. He opened his own workshop in 1897 after working for Lalique. His great mastery, a reflection of his ceaseless research, follows in the footsteps the work of Louis Houillon. Houillon, like Etienne Tourette, had revived a Chinese technique, brought up to date a Chinese technique involving the addition of metallic flakes to the vitreous mixture. The result is shimmering and very lively, as can be seen here on the wings of the butterflies in our necklace. One of the difficulties of enameling lies in the firing temperature, which must be constantly constantly controlled so as not to cause the material to crack. to find the right support for it (Barbara Furrer, Eugène feuillâtre, Bibliographical supplement, in The Belle Epoque of French Jewellery 1850-1910, 1991, p. 68-73). The technical technical challenges provided avenues for research, unforeseen discoveries and successes. The butterfly with its translucent wings is a recurring motif in his work, in keeping with the of his time (Alastair Duncan, The paris Salons 1895-1914, 1994, p. 236- 240), and the necklace we present, a flight of butterflies as if captured on a jewel, a magnificent poetic evocation of spring. EUGÈNE FEUILLÂTRE Necklace in 18K (750) gold, articulated with plique-à-jour enameled butterflies, the heads highlighted with old-cut diamonds, scandé de fleurettes émaillées, the hearts in demi-perles. Master stamp. French work from the early 20th century. Preserved in its original case. Length: approx. 40 cm. Gross weight: 52.6 g (missing)