Lacloche, redécouverte d’un trésor oublié

November 5, 2025

Lacloche, rediscovery of a forgotten treasure from the period Art Deco

In 2025, as the world celebrates the centenary ofa revolutionary style, L'Art Deco, A long-forgotten treasure has resurfaced. Beyond the famous grand houses, there are hidden gems, like those of there Maison Laclochewhich captivate jewelry and history enthusiasts today. In this article, let's take a closer look at this Maison.

Lacloche Brothers: the family foundation of a European empire

There Maison Lacloche, founded in 1892 by Leopold Lacloche in Brussels, quickly settled in Paris with his brothers Jules, Fernand and Jacques, forming the company "Lacloche Brothers, Then "Lacloche and Co."This family of jewelers built a veritable jewelry empire in Europe, establishing boutiques in popular seaside resorts such as Trouville, Nice, and Monaco, as well as in Madrid and London. From its very beginnings, Lacloche It is distinguished by refined creativity and technical know-how, relying on the talent of the best craftsmen of its time to bring its designs to life.

The characteristic jewelry of the Maison Lacloche

Lacloche Brothers embodies theArt Deco through the technical excellence and distinctive aesthetic of its jewelryTheir style blends geometric lines, bold color contrasts, and exotic materials such as onyx, jade, coral, enamel, and crystal. "taste Lacloche" is distinguished by a strong Asian and exotic inspiration, with floral and animal motifs from the Eastreflecting the Roaring Twenties' fascination with faraway lands. Each piece discreetly bears the signature "Lacloche Brothers or simply "Lacloche", sometimes followed by the mention "Paris", a guarantee of authenticity and origin.

The imposing rings Lacloche

Made primarily in platinum or in gold these rings haveassociates geometric lines and stylized details typical of theArt Deco, often highlighted by precise crimping of old-cut diamonds, emeralds, rubies or sapphires. Their finely chiseled settings sometimes reveal floral or abstract motifs.

Brooches, clips and pendants with exotic patterns

The pins, clips and pendants of the maison play on exotic subjects, often blending fauna and flora inspired by China or Japan. True miniature works of art, These jewels are made with meticulous techniques such as cloisonné enamel, engraving and gemstone carving, giving each piece a unique character.

The kits, minaudières and precious objects

In addition to jewelry, Lacloche creates beauty kits, minaudières and ornate luxury items of diamonds, carved hard stones and platinum, Thus responding to the demands of emancipated women in the 1920s, these pieces perfectly illustrate the understated refinement and sophistication of luxury. Art Deco, while also bearing witness to the evolution of the social and aesthetic codes of the time.

Large-scale commissioned diadems and jewelry

There maison Lacloche He also fulfilled large orders for diadems and jewelry for an aristocratic and cosmopolitan clientele. These sumptuous ensembles blend innovation, traditional craftsmanship, and artistic imagination, as well as a rich decorative style.

Necklaces and bracelets with narrative motifs

Necklaces and bracelets often feature narrative motifs, depicting symbolic scenes or compositions, enhanced by colored stones and the work of the platinum. These jewels, beyond their elegance, bear witness of a strong artistic discourse, blending modernity and cultural references.

International rise and golden age Art Deco

The highlight of the maison Lacloche occurred during the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. founding event L'Art Deco.

There maison there, he presented a remarkable collection in the Pavilion of Elegance, which earned him a major prize and international recognition. With creations exhibited alongside Cartier And Van Cleef & Arpels, Lacloche affirms its positioning among the leaders of the jewelry industry at the time Art DecoIts style reflects modernity, blending geometric rigor and material richness, appealing to a cosmopolitan and demanding international clientele.

After this first event, participation in other exhibitions continued to follow one after another: at New York, London, Brussels... Ljewelry Lacloche They have managed to attract a cosmopolitan clientele, including royalty, public figures (particularly from the film industry), and wealthy collectors. maison affirmed its international reach by opening prestigious branches in London, on New Bond Street as early as 1912, as well as in Madrid, where it had a Spanish branch since the end of the 19th century, and in Buenos Aires with the Coven- companyLacloche on the very elegant Calle Florida. This presence in several European capitals and beyond, in the Americas, testifies to the ambition and successful expansion of the maison Lacloche outside of France, allowing it to establish itself on the international jewelry scene.

The crisis: fall and disappearance

However, the economic crisis of the 1930s severely affected the maison Lacloche, which closed its doors in 1939. The Second World War and the changing tastes in jewelry made it difficult for traditional houses to survive. After the war, Jacques Lacloche relay a more contemporary activity under its own name, but the maison The iconic image as it existed gradually disappeared, leaving behind a fragmented legacy and lost archives.

Renaissance: cultural rediscovery and recognition

Today, Lacloche is experiencing a welcome renaissance in the jewelry landscape. Its jewelry is sought after by collectors and specialists for its exceptional quality, its discreet originality and its reflection of a fascinating era.

This renaissance took a decisive turn in 2019 with a major exhibition organized at the École des Arts Joailliers in Paris, under the aegis of Van Cleef & Arpels. This event unveiled a previously unseen collection of 74 pieces, which until then had been scattered around the world in prestigious private collections such as those in London, New York, and Tokyo.

That same year, a Important publication: a monograph "Lacloche "Jewelers," written by Laurence Mouillefarine, a journalist specializing in the art market, and Véronique Ristelhueber, a documentalist and iconographer, was published. It is recognized as a major reference for the history of the maison Lacloche, drawing on previously unpublished family archives and featuring over 700 documents, including extraordinary albums of gouache jewelry, boxes and clocks designed for the 1925 International Exhibition.

In 2023This excitement continued with the holding of other exhibitions, furthering the work of preserving and promoting the heritage of the maison, supported by specialist galleries and jewelry historians.

This rediscovery also testifies to the renewed interest in the history of French jewelry and its artisans, from both a heritage and cultural perspective.