GEORGE BRAQUE Paris 1963 Sculptural Procris Necklace In 18Kt Gold With Enamel
An sculptural Procris necklace designed by George Braque. (1882-1963)
An exceptionally rare sculptural necklace created in Paris, France, by the celebrated artist Georges Braque. Designed in 1963, this remarkable work was produced by Baron Heger de Löwenfeld in a limited and unfinished edition of only seventy-five pieces. This is the number two from the edition. From the esteemed “Procris” collection, the necklace is composed of 23 finely textured links terminating in rings at each end, and is masterfully handcrafted in solid 18-karat yellow gold with a richly tactile surface. The detachable pendant, a defining element of the design, depicts a stylized bird poised in mid-flight facing left, enriched with applications of vibrant red hard-glass enamel—an evocative motif central to Braque’s late artistic vocabulary. In 1961, at the age of 79, Braque entered into a visionary collaboration with the jeweler Heger de Löwenfeld. What began with a single ring soon evolved into an extraordinary body of wearable sculpture. Braque famously described Löwenfeld as “the extension of my hands,” and devoted the final two years of his life exclusively to the creation of jewelry. The title “Procris” draws from Greek mythology, wherein Procris was tempted with jewels by her husband Cephalus, who, in disguise, sought to test her fidelity. Though she initially resisted, she ultimately yielded, at which point Cephalus revealed himself and cast her away—an enduring narrative of desire, deception, and consequence.
George Braque
He was a 20th century French French painter born on May 13, 1882, in Argenteuil, France. As a painter he invented Cubism with Pablo Picasso. Along with Cubism, Braque used the styles of Impressionism, Fauvism and collage, and even staged designs for the Ballet Russes. Through his career, his style changed to portray somber subjects during wartime and lighter, freer themes in between. He never strayed far from Cubism, as there were always aspects of it in his works. Braque died on August 31, 1963, in Paris. He spent his childhood in Le Havre and planned to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by becoming a house painter. From about 1897 to 1899, Braque studied painting at the École des Beaux-Arts in the evenings. Wanting to pursue artistic painting further, he moved to Paris and apprenticed with a master decorator before painting at the Académie Humbert from 1902 to 1904. Braque started his art career using an Impressionistic painting style. Circa 1905, he transitioned into a Fauvist style after viewing works exhibited by the Fauves, a group that included such notable artists as Henri Matisse and André Derain. The Fauves' style incorporated bold colors and loose-form structures to emulate deep emotions. Braque's first solo show took place in 1908 at Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler's gallery. From 1909 to 1914, Braque and fellow artist Pablo Picasso collaborated to develop Cubism as well as to incorporate collage elements and papier collé (pasted paper) into their pieces. Braque's style changed after World War I, when his art became less structured and planned. A successful exhibition in 1922 at the Salon d'Automne in Paris garnered him much acclaim. A few years later, renowned dancer and choreographer Sergei Diaghilev asked Braque to design decor for two of his ballets at the Ballets Russes. The end of the 1920s saw another style change as Braque began painting more realistic interpretations of nature, though he never strayed far from Cubism, as there were always aspects of it in his works.
Country: Paris, France.
Period: Modernist, 1963.
Tittle: Procris.
Edition & editor: Authorized to 12 Artist proofs and a series of 75, this is the number 2/75, perhaps the edition was never completed, with just a few pieces made to order by Baron Héger de Löwenfeld.
Materials: Yellow gold of 18 karats and vivid red glass enamel.
Weight: 151.3 Grams, (96.99 Dwt).
Size: The necklace is 30 Inches, (76.2 Cm.).
Measurements: The pendant is 55 mm by 50 mm by 5 mm, (2.16 x 1.97 x 0.20 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay and warranty of the 18Kt yellow gold and signed as follows: "BIJOUX DE BRAQUE HEGER DE LOWENFELD 12 PA 2/75 2059©". The chain is also fully signed with Braque letters and serially numbered as follows, "BdeB 46R4-817©".
Exhibited: Scultura Aurea. Gioielli d’Artista per un nuovo Rinascimento, Palazzo Ducale, Galleria Nazionale della Marche, Urbino, 30 May-8 September, 2019
Literature: R. de Cuttoli and H. de Löwenfeld, Metamorphoses de Braque. Gouaches, bijoux, sculptures, lives d'art, lithographies, Paris 1989, pp. 50 and 52 (annotations on the original gouaches reproduced show that both pieces were intended to be worn together); Martine Newby Haspeslagh, Jewelry by Contemporary Painters and Sculptors @50: 1967-2017 (Didier Ltd, London 2017), pp. 30-1, no. 15; P. Stroppiana, Scultura Aurea. Gioielli d’Artista per un nuovo Rinascimento. Art Jewellery for a New Renaissance (Gli Ori, Pistoia 2019), p. 55
Collateral: This George Braque necklace is accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.
Condition: The overall condition of this George Braque necklace is excellent. Beside the little normal wear there is no damage to the gold and all parts are secured in their settings. This sculpture was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition & authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: N051926ATSNR/3.637
