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Line Vautrin Brooches

Celebrated as the “poetess of metal” by Vogue magazine, designer Line Vautrin’s provocative works, which span furniture and jewelry, are characterized by fanciful forms and technical excellence. An audacious decorative artist and intellectual during a time when women were expected to fall into traditional roles, her inspirational designs show her passion for literature, wordplay and mythological allegory.

Born in 1914, Vautrin possessed a sense of curiosity and keen observational skills that led her to start creating at an early age. A talented autodidact, she taught herself to work with metal while spending time in her family’s bronze foundry. Vautrin had already mastered the skills of casting, carving, gilding and polishing bronze by the time she was in her early teens, and introduced her first line of jewelry when she was only twenty years old, offering her unique brooches, belt clasps and buttons to a select group of customers. In 1937, Vautrin helmed a small booth at the Paris International Exposition, where she gained some notoriety for her handcrafted accessories. Around the same time, Vautrin worked briefly for Elsa Schiaparelli, a like-minded fashion designer whose achievements propelled her onto the cover of Time magazine in 1934.

Vautrin opened a modest boutique near the Champs-Élysées in the late 1930s. During World War II, she created playful and sophisticated necklaces, powder boxes, earrings and other items that gave her clientele a welcome respite from wartime hardships. There was great demand for Vautrin’s work, and she opened a larger shop on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1946. Shortly thereafter, she opened her own atelier in Paris’s then run-down Marais district with her husband, interior decorator Jacques Armand Bonnaud. The neighborhood would later become world-famous for its boutiques and designer shops.

Vautrin’s boundless curiosity led her to constantly experiment with new materials and processes. In 1955, she perfected her technique with a new form of cellulose acetate resin, which she patented under the name Talosel. Vautrin used this material extensively to create complicated mirrored inlays, which became one of her signature motifs.

Throughout her life, Vautrin played with literary and religious iconography in her designs, drawing inspiration from common aphorisms, ancient world mythologies and alchemical principles. Her passion for symbology and the written word is reflected in her work, which often features intricate lettering and carefully rendered shapes and figures. Vautrin's pieces were imbued with her own sense of humor and love of fantasy.

In 1969, Vautrin closed her shop, and, alongside her daughter, Marie-Laure Bonnaud-Vautrin, opened a craft school to teach her innovative techniques to aspiring artists. Vautrin retired in 1980 but continued to create art from her apartment up until her death in 1997. Her individualism earned her a place among the most iconic creators of mid-century jewelry and decorative objects. Actress Brigitte Bardot and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent became notable collectors of her work.

In 1992, Vautrin was recognized for her work in developing new decorative techniques by the Société d'Encouragement aux Métiers d’Art (later the Institut National des Métiers d’Art). Her designs were also celebrated by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which held a retrospective of her works in 1999.

Find vintage Line Vautrin mirrors, decorative objects and collectibles on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Line Vautrin
Line Vautrin Blue Mirrors and Black Talosel Brooch
Line Vautrin Blue Mirrors and Black Talosel Brooch

Line Vautrin Blue Mirrors and Black Talosel Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

Line Vautrin created this stunning Talosel or resin brooch in the 1950s. The rare piece boasts a freeform dimensional shape in black Talosel, encrusted with cobalt blue mirrored-colo...

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1950s French Retro Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin 1955s Broche pendentif Bronze Artist Brooch pendant
Line Vautrin 1955s Broche pendentif Bronze Artist Brooch pendant

Line Vautrin 1955s Broche pendentif Bronze Artist Brooch pendant

By Line Vautrin

Located in PARIS, FR

Line Vautrin (1913-1997) brooch in geometric bronze, decorated with a large pin on the back, signed in the lower part on the back. Width 4.4 cm x height 9 cm. The piece is vintage bu...

Category

1950s French Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze

Line Vautrin Surreal Eye Brooch
Line Vautrin Surreal Eye Brooch

Line Vautrin Surreal Eye Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Unusual surrealist eye brooch by Line Vautrin, France from the 1950s. Signature "mosaics" of mirrored glass panels cut to form "eye" and set in Talosel resi...

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Early 20th Century French Art Deco Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin Talosel and Mirrors Brooch St Hubert Model
Line Vautrin Talosel and Mirrors Brooch St Hubert Model

Line Vautrin Talosel and Mirrors Brooch St Hubert Model

By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

Line Vautrin Talosel Cornucopia Brooch An exceptional creation by the legendary artist Line Vautrin, this Talosel brooch embodies both artistry and innovation. Designed in the form o...

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1950s French Modernist Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Gilt Metal

A mirrored glass and talousel brooch and earrings, Line Vautrin, France, 1960s
A mirrored glass and talousel brooch and earrings, Line Vautrin, France, 1960s

A mirrored glass and talousel brooch and earrings, Line Vautrin, France, 1960s

By Line Vautrin

Located in Greyabbey, County Down

This Talousel and mirrored glass brooch and earrings is a fine example of the later work of Line Vautrin from the 1960s. A most beautiful and unusual colour, each piece is truly artisan, made and assembled by hand. The delicate mirrored and resin elements are stacked or jumbled, on top of each other, to create an utterly delightful and original design, highly typical of this magical designer. An astounding artist, the truly individual Line Vautrin was named a ‘poetess in metal’ by Vogue magazine in 1948, starting her career in such prestigious surroundings, making buttons for Schiaparelli. She went on create some of the most extraordinary and individual jewellery, artists’ jewellery in very poetic and clever designs. These included necklace, brooches, bracelets and earrings, as well as boxes and other objets de vertu...

Category

1960s French Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Base Metal

Line Vautrin "La Manif" Gilt Bronze Brooch
Line Vautrin "La Manif" Gilt Bronze Brooch

Line Vautrin "La Manif" Gilt Bronze Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Gilt brooch by Line Vautrin (1913-1997), circa 1945-46. The design is known as ...

Category

1950s French Artisan Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze, Gilt Metal, Gold Plate, Brass

Line Vautrin 1940s Art Deco Articulated Gilt Bronze Seahorse Brooch
Line Vautrin 1940s Art Deco Articulated Gilt Bronze Seahorse Brooch

Line Vautrin 1940s Art Deco Articulated Gilt Bronze Seahorse Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in University City, MO

Line Vautrin 1940s Art Deco articulated gilt bronze seahorse brooch (Attributed) The incredibly rare figural brooch is designed with a stylized gilt b...

Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze, Gilt Metal

Line Vautrin Talosel Asymmetric Brooch with Multicolor Mirrors
Line Vautrin Talosel Asymmetric Brooch with Multicolor Mirrors

Line Vautrin Talosel Asymmetric Brooch with Multicolor Mirrors

By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

Line Vautrin designed this stunning geometric Talosel brooch in the 1960s. The rare piece is encrusted with colorful multicolor mirrored glass in a modernist dimensional shape. Shard...

Category

1960s French Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin Mirror Mosaic Flower Bouquet Brooch
Line Vautrin Mirror Mosaic Flower Bouquet Brooch

Line Vautrin Mirror Mosaic Flower Bouquet Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Unusual Floral bouquet brooch by Line Vautrin, France from the 1950s. Signature "mosaics" of rose color mirrored glass rounds cut to form flowerheads and set in Talosel resin backed ...

Category

1950s French Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Gold Plate, Gilt Metal

Collectible Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Brooch, c. 1945
Collectible Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Brooch, c. 1945

Collectible Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Brooch, c. 1945

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

A collectible gilt-bronze brooch showing a sunlit lion was designed by pioneering French woman jeweler Line Vautrin, France, circa 1945. It is a small but mighty piece weighing 27.72 grams and signed “LV.” Vautrin’s brooch makes the perfect gift for a partner or a unique addition to an artist’s jewelry aficionado’s collection. Born into a family of metal founders, even as a small child Line Vautrin (1913-1997) was fascinated by her father’s business. She never received a formal art education, but by the time she was 14, she had mastered the skills of casting, chasing, and gilding bronze. At 15, she hit upon the novel concept of making artistic jewelry in gilt metal. She began to sell pieces almost immediately; Vautrin devoted herself to experimentation with new materials then and, indeed, throughout her career but remained committed to bronze. In a time when few women played such a role, she was a pioneering craftswoman known for highly original jewelry enveloped in wordplay and symbology. The turning point came when she hired a stand at the Paris International Exposition...

Category

1940s French Artist Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze

1950's Line Vautrin Gilded Bronze Wearable Art Flower Pin
1950's Line Vautrin Gilded Bronze Wearable Art Flower Pin

1950's Line Vautrin Gilded Bronze Wearable Art Flower Pin

By Line Vautrin

Located in Toronto, Ontario

1950's Line Vautrin gilded bronze and enamel pin. An every day lapel sized pin designed by the renowned metal worker known for her wearable art. Fashioned in a floral shape, it featu...

Category

1950s French Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze

Line Vautrin Talosel and Blue Mirrors Brooch
Line Vautrin Talosel and Blue Mirrors Brooch

Line Vautrin Talosel and Blue Mirrors Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

This gorgeous Line Vautrin Talosel geometric brooch is encrusted with clear and blue mirrored glass, featuring iridescence in a tridimensional, modernist shape. The rare piece was cr...

Category

1950s French Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin Talosel and Pink Mosaic Mirrors Brooch
Line Vautrin Talosel and Pink Mosaic Mirrors Brooch

Line Vautrin Talosel and Pink Mosaic Mirrors Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

Step into the world of rare artistry with this stunning Line Vautrin geometric Talosel brooch—a masterpiece of Parisian craftsmanship. Its striking rectangular shape is adorned with ...

Category

1960s French Modernist Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin Cobalt Glass and Carved  Gilt Talosel Brooch
Line Vautrin Cobalt Glass and Carved  Gilt Talosel Brooch

Line Vautrin Cobalt Glass and Carved Gilt Talosel Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Cobalt Glass Cabocheon and Carved Gilt Talosel Brooch By Line Vautrin. The substance was developed by Line Vautrin using a synthetic resin that appeared at the end of the Second World War. The term Talosel was patented in 1950. It is an acronym based on the syllables of aceTAte de celluLOSe ELaboré. She used this new substance, extracted from wood cellulose, to make decorative objects: frames, lamps, sconces, door surrounds, screens, coffered ceilings...

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1940s French Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Unusual Line Vautrin "Jonas" Clip
Unusual Line Vautrin "Jonas" Clip

Unusual Line Vautrin "Jonas" Clip

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Line Vautrin modele "Jonas". Large and unusual Line Vautrin Clip of gilded bronze. A figure stands over a cascading ribbon form motif which resembles...

Category

1940s French Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze, Gilt Metal

Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Moon Star Cosmology 2-part Brooch
Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Moon Star Cosmology 2-part Brooch

Line Vautrin Gilt Bronze Moon Star Cosmology 2-part Brooch

By Line Vautrin

Located in New York, NY

Portman is pleased to offer this rare Line Vautrin “performing” brooch, extra-large for her oeuvre. In fact after looking at these for years, I have not seen such a large narrative ...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Line Vautrin Brooches

Materials

Bronze, Gilt Metal

Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Marottes" (Puppets)
Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Marottes" (Puppets)

Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Marottes" (Puppets)

By Line Vautrin

Located in Bruxelles, BE

This brooch, in gilded bronze named "Marotte", beautifully showcases the humorous aspect and the art of reinterpreting things by LV. A "marotte" in French is a theatrical prop, typic...

Category

1950s French Arts and Crafts Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

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Previously Available Items
Line Vautrin Flying Bird Resin Talosel and Blue Mirrors Brooch
Line Vautrin Flying Bird Resin Talosel and Blue Mirrors Brooch

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By Line Vautrin

Located in Atlanta, GA

This is a beautiful Line Vautrin Talosel 3D bird brooch. The rare piece was handcrafted in France circa 1950. The off-white resin is encrusted with blue-colored mirrored glass in the...

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1950s French Modernist Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Grenouilles"
Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Grenouilles"

Line Vautrin gilded bronze brooch "Les Grenouilles"

By Line Vautrin

Located in Bruxelles, BE

Very rare double pin brooch linked with 3 chains by French artist Line Vautrin. Line Vautrin was a French jewelry maker, designer, and decorative artist. Best known for her uncatego...

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1950s French Modern Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

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Bronze, Gilt Metal

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Line Vautrin Talosel Brooch Pin with Multicolor Mirrors

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Located in Atlanta, GA

Line Vautrin designed this gorgeous geometric Talosel brooch pin in the 1960s. The piece is encrusted with colorful multicolor mirrored glass in a mo...

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'Chorus of Frogs' gilded bronze double brooch, Line Vautrin, France, late 1940s
'Chorus of Frogs' gilded bronze double brooch, Line Vautrin, France, late 1940s

'Chorus of Frogs' gilded bronze double brooch, Line Vautrin, France, late 1940s

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Located in Greyabbey, County Down

A magnificent and utterly unique brooch, 'Les Grenouilles', from 'poetess in metal', Line Vautrin. Composed of a single frog at one end of the jewel, and a group of three frogs on a ...

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'Eclipse' bronze brooch, Line Vautrin, late 1940s, France.
'Eclipse' bronze brooch, Line Vautrin, late 1940s, France.

'Eclipse' bronze brooch, Line Vautrin, late 1940s, France.

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Located in Greyabbey, County Down

A beautiful figural clip/brooch from Line Vautrin, cleverly and amusingly depicting am eclipse of the sun, poetic. An iconic and well documented design from this wonderful artist, a ...

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H 0.56 in W 2.21 in L 1.93 in

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Located in Atlanta, GA

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Elegant vintage 1960s gilded bronze pin brooch by Line Vautrin. Carved round shape with stylized rose flower in the center and engraved poem on edge. The engraving reads: "Migno...

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early 1960's LINE VAUTRIN talosel bird brooch
early 1960's LINE VAUTRIN talosel bird brooch

early 1960's LINE VAUTRIN talosel bird brooch

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Located in San Fransisco, CA

Very rare talosel bird brooch by Line Vautrin dating to the early 1960's. Signed 'Joux' on reverse side. Good condition. Chip on one feather and two cracks to other section.

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1960s Vintage Line Vautrin Brooches

Line Vautrin brooches for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of Line Vautrin brooches available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using gilt metal. We have 15 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. Modern and Art Deco are among the most popular styles of Line Vautrin brooches available on 1stDibs. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider brooches by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., Pierre Sterlé, and Robert Goossens for Chanel. Prices for Line Vautrin brooches can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $877 and tops out at $12,000, while pieces like these, on average, can sell for $1,900.