Bracelets

An early twentieth century  French Indochine silver cuff

The double  hinged rigid buckle bracelet with finely carved scenes, symbols and people of colonial Indochine featuring a water porter, a second figure,  building, bamboo, flowering trees and money trees deeply carved and finely delineated, with each section hallmarked.

France had a long history with the area which became known as Indochine from1887. The Great  Exposition in Paris in 1900 helped promote Indochine extravagantly recreating many aspects of Indochine including five historic buildings to house the main areas being presented. One pavilion was devoted to arts including jewellery and a team of artists and artisans were brought to Paris to demonstrate their arts. This reinforced a deep interest in the Fine Arts of French Indochine which continues today in France.  Jewellery typically featured tranquil depictions of local workers, animals  and scenes of nature  including Asian motifs of bamboo and symbolic flowers to appeal to local clients while the tranquillity, romanticism and exoticism appealed to French clients.

This is a particularly fine example of colonial French Indochine jewellery with scene, figures and foliage sensitively and finely realised in superb detail and deep carving. Like all fine jewellery it transcends its period.