Georges Fouquet

Georges Fouquet (1862–1957) was a French jewelry designer best known for his Art Nouveau creations.^[1] He was part of a successful jewellery family^[2] his father Alphonse Fouquet before him design in a neoclassicist style and his son Jean Fouquet design in the Art Deco style.

In Paris, Fouquet joined his father in the family business in 1891.^[1] He took over the running of the company in 1895.^[3] In 1900, he opened a new jewelry shop at 6 rue Royale in Paris, designed by the illustrator Alphonse Mucha. The interior of the shop is preserved at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris.^[4] Contrary to Lalique but like Henri Vever, Georges Fouquet expressed himself through more synthetic geometric forms.^[5][6]

In 1900, Fouquet was featured at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.^[7] During the event, Fouquet's collaboration with Alphonse Mucha was prominently showcased, unveiling a highly theatrical line of jewelry characterized by intricate enamel work, natural motifs, and the innovative use of materials like ivory, mother-of-pearl, and gemstones. This collection became an iconic representation of the Art Nouveau style.^[8][9]

Georges Fouquet is a fantasist, and while his creations can be associated with the Lalique school, it is not due to imitation, but rather his imaginative talent. His work is often complex and holds a foremost place in the Art Nouveau movement.^[10]

He also designed jewels for French actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt.^[11] Pieces of his work can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,^[12] the Victoria and Albert Museum,^[13] the Petit Palais.^[14] The Carnavalet Museum in Paris has a recreation of the shop of Georges Fouquet ^[15] In 1984 a major exhibition of three generations of the Fouquet Jewellers was made by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and then the exhibition went on to be show at the Rietberg Museum in Zurich.^[16]