JEAN DESPRÉS (1889-1980)* Silver bracelet consisting of five segments, three of which are decorated with five lines and two with a triangular relief. A very fine piece of jewellery from the artist's Art Deco period in 1930. Artist's signature on the tip, goldsmith's hallmark and a guarantee hallmark (boar's head). Model 229 (D2) registered on 4 October 1930. Size: approx. 19 cm. Gross weight: 104.9 g. Iconic and scandalous! This "cam" bracelet from 1930 is part of a series of jewellery pieces known as "pièces moteurs". Iconic because we are in the middle of the Art Deco period, and the graphics are there in all their simplicity and splendour. And yet it is scandalous, because while others are working very finely on platinum set with diamonds, Després is striking silver with all his might on his anvil. To produce what? Jewellery! Really? Yes, but jewellery that looks like engine parts. His background, from 1917 onwards, had a huge influence on his production. Initially an aviation mechanic, his drawing skills led him to design engines for the French army during the war. His pencil stroke is resolutely graphic, clean and perfectly defined. Each element fits into a volume and finds its place there. So it's hardly surprising that one of the places where this bracelet was shown was the Aéro-Club de France exhibition in 1930. Bibliography: M. Gabardi, Jean Després, Bijoutier et orfèvre entre Art Déco et modernité, Paris, 2009. Model shown p. 9 and registered design drawing p. 199.