A RARE AND COLLECTIBLE GOLD 'PETITE TÊTE CARÉE'...

A RARE AND COLLECTIBLE GOLD 'PETITE TÊTE CARÉE' PENDANT, BY ANDRÉ DERAIN (1880-1954)

A rare 23K gold pendant, conceived circa 1965, stamped with the artist's signature, incised 'Exemplaire d'auteur 1/2', with the Francois and Pierre Hugo reference numbered '1702' and '2915', stamped with Francois Hugo's hallmark, published by Ateliers Hugo in 2012, within its original wooden fitted case, length 7.9cm, width 5.9cm

For a comparable piece by Andre Derain, see see Hugo, P. and Siaud, C. (2001) Bijoux d'artistes. Artist’s Jewels, Hommage à Francois Hugo, p. 89

Long-time friend of François Hugo, Parisian artist and sculptor André Derain (1880-1954) was one of the many creatives who set out to create jewellery pieces at the workshop in the South of France. Alongside Henri Matisse, Derain was founder of the Fauvist movement at the beginning of the 20th century. Derain was initially friends with Francois’ older brother Jean, but later developed an even closer relationship with the younger of the Hugo brothers. Hugo and Derain influenced each other in both their personal and artistic lives. Derain was best man at Hugo’s wedding to his wife Monique and remained close to the couple throughout his life. Having devoted himself to painting in the 1920s, Derain turned increasingly to sculpture during the 1930s. Following World War II, he modelled some medallions in terracotta which were later cast in bronze. Although Derain continued to pursue his passion for sculptural works, his interest in jewellery design and casting emerged from his sculptural practices and was undoubtably propelled to new heights by his friendship with Francois Hugo.

In the early days of their friendship, Derain had tried his hand at ceramics with the guide of Hugo, but the collaboration didn’t amount to much and the pieces do not survive. In the late 1940s, Derain once more turned to Hugo to draw upon his knowledge and skill in the creation of 10 sculptural jewels for his wife Alice Prense. Derain’s initial designs were crafted from the lead he had reused from empty paint-tubes from his studio. Six of these jewels were intended to be made in editions of 23 carat gold by Hugo, but Derain tragically died in a road accident in 1954 before the project could come to fruition. Hugo paid homage to the legacy of his friend and legendary artist by eventually making editions in 1966 and 1967.