Jean DESPRÉS* (1889-1980) - France Silver and 18k (750 thousandths) gold ring with gadrooned shoulders. The centre is composed of two lines of black Japanese lacquer and yellow gold gadroons dividing two red half-cylinders. The material of which the latter are composed has not been analysed and does not appear to be coral (no veins and stippled texture with a magnifying glass) but may be very red jasper. Handwritten hallmark in the body of the ring and master hallmark on the outside of the ring. Crab hallmark. Late 1920s, early 1930s. Finger size: 53 Gross weight: 17.2 g. Art Deco in all its splendour! This ring is perfectly symmetrical, reminiscent of those remarkable architectural constructions built between 1925 and 1935, such as the Villa Empain in Brussels, with its ideal lines, or one of those great American buildings that are the pride of cities like New York. Everything is in its place, nothing stands out. Jean Després loved the flat lines and grooved gadroons found in many of his creations from this period. These gadroons appear notably on the bracelet exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Indépendants in Paris in 1929 and worn by a mannequin, a reproduction of which can be found in Mr Gabardi's excellent reference book on page 34. Bibliography: M. Gabardi, Jean Després, Bijoutier et orfèvre entre Art Déco et modernité, Paris, 2009. Please do not bid via Drouot live for this lot. We only accept telephone bids. Please contact AZ Auction.