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.
“Cannabis” or “The World of Plants” by Line Vautrin, gilded bronze box, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Cannabis” or “The World of Plants” by Line Vautrin, gilded bronze box. “Finely chiseled gilt bronze box, the lid depicting a central plant whose leaves, veins, and roots radiate sym...
Bronze
“Le lion” gilt bronze compact by Line Vautrin, Circa 1945, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Le lion” gilt bronze compact by Line Vautrin. Gilt-bronze compact depicting a stylised lion’s head in relief, surrounded by small arrow-like marks. This motif belongs to the talisma...
Bronze
Les roseaux à visage humain et Le lit de la rivière by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Reeds with Human Faces and The Riverbed, a set of two boxes. (Les roseaux à visage humain et le lit de la rivière) by Line Vautrin. Set of two gilt bronze boxes, titled Reeds with Hu...
Bronze
“Tout ou Rien” (“All or Nothing”) by Line Vautrin, silvered bronze box.
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Tout ou Rien” (“All or Nothing”) by Line Vautrin, silvered bronze box. A “toutou” in familiar french language is a dog. It’s inscribed “RIEN” on the necklace, introducing the expres...
Bronze
Armenian Alphabet by Line Vautrin, Gilt Bronze Compact
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Line Vautrin was inspired by the Armenian alphabet to create this very pretty compact whose lid and reverse are entirely carved with the characters o...
Bronze
Empreinte (footprint), gilded bronze powder compact by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Empreinte (footprint), gilded bronze powder compact by Line Vautrin. Powder compact with a highly chiseled lid representing a hand located in the center of a fingerprint. The wolf ma...
Bronze
“Allez laissez couler les jours”, gilt bronze compact by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Allez laissez couler les jours”, gilt bronze compact by Line Vautrin. Gilded bronze compact with a rebus-decorated lid, enhanced with hot-fired enamel, by Line Vautrin. The finely s...
Bronze, Enamel
Si face à elle j’osais, silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin, circa 1950, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Si face à elle j’osais, silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin. “Si face à elle j’osais,” rebus box in silvered bronze. Rectangular silvered bronze box with a rebus decoration. The lid ...
Bronze
“Tree of Life” by Line Vautrin, gilt-bronze decorative box, circa 1945, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Tree of Life” by Line Vautrin, gilt-bronze decorative box. Gilded bronze box of almond shape, entirely sculpted in relief with a Tree of Life. The vertical trunk expands into branch...
Bronze
Silvered Bronze Box “Heureux Parmi la Foule” by Line Vautrin, France, circa 1945
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Heureux parmi la foule” (Happy among the crowd), silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin. Generously sized silvered bronze box. The lid carved with a decoration of a multitude of faces,...
Bronze
Puzzle by Line Vautrin – Box in gilded bronze
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Puzzle by Line Vautrin – Box in gilded bronze Large and wide box in gilded bronze whose lid is carved with a puzzle by Line Vautrin. The chiselled puzzle p...
Bronze
La prière de Saint François d’Assise, Gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
La prière de Saint François d’Assise (The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi), gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin. Large gilt bronze box whose lid is engraved with a large extract from t...
Bronze
The sweeper of the Sacred Heart by Line Vautrin – Gilt bronze box
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
La balayeuse du Sacré-Coeur (The sweeper of the Sacred Heart) by Line Vautrin, gilt bronze box. Generously sized gilt bronze box. The lid chiselled with a decoration of a multitude o...
Bronze
Large French Silvered Bronze Box Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A silvered bronze poudrier box "Ammonite" by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). In the 1940s, Line Vautrin designed a series that was inspired by the shape of na...
Bronze
Large Gilt Bronze Feuille Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large cast bronze powder box (poudrier) by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1945-1950. The box called "Feuille" (Leaf) features an irregular leaf form wit...
Bronze
Les roseaux à visage humain by Line Vautrin, double-sided silvered bronze box
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Les Roseaux à visage humain” (“Reeds with Human Faces”) is a double-sided silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin. The front side representing reeds (rushes) in motion, with their flowe...
Bronze
La Sirène au Bateau (The mermaid with the boat) by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
La Sirène au Bateau (The mermaid with the boat) by Line Vautrin, silvered bronze box. Silvered bronze box whose lid is decorated with a Mermaid carrying a boat at arm’s length. This ...
Bronze
Gilded Bronze Box with Poem by French Art Jeweler Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A gilt bronze poudrier box with cast poem on surface by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940s. The poem "Les 4 ages de la Femme" was an old French lyrical poem th...
Bronze
J’ai perdu ma tourterelle by Line Vautrin – Box in silvered bronze
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
J’ai perdu ma tourterelle (I lost my dove) by Line Vautrin – Box in silvered bronze. J’ai perdu ma tourterelle (I lost my dove) Box in silvered bronze by Line Vautrin. Large silvered...
Bronze
Line Vautrin Mother-of-Pearl Powder Compact
By Line Vautrin
Located in New York, NY
Powder compact in silvered bronze with incised mother-of-pearl top. Signed.
Bronze
Trianon or Les pavés du Roy silvered bronze compact by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Trianon” or “Les pavés du Roy”, silvered bronze compact by Line Vautrin. Silver-plated bronze compact depicting the cobblestones of the Château de Versailles. On the upper part, a h...
Bronze
Amour roi de ton coeur (Love King of Your Heart) by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Amour roi de ton coeur (Love King of Your Heart) by Line Vautrin , Silver Bronze Box. Silver-plated bronze box with a lid enhanced with a decoration representing a two-tone wheel, th...
Bronze, Enamel
Line Vautrin “Cailloutis” Enamel and Gilt Bronze Compact, France, circa 1940
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Cailloutis”, ruby-red enameled gilt-bronze compact by Line Vautrin, France. Circular compact in gilt bronze, the lid decorated with the emblematic Cailloutis pattern. The surface, s...
Bronze, Enamel
La Dame à la Licorne , Silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“La Dame à la Licorne” (The Lady and the Unicorn), silvered bronze box by Line Vautrin. Crafted in silvered bronze, this rectangular box features a highly poetic relief design. On it...
Bronze
Billions of times love came and went, Gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Des milliards de fois s’en vint puis s’envola l’amour (Billions of times love came and went), gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin. Finely chiseled gilt bronze box, the lid featuring a ...
Bronze
Daughters of Neptune by Line Vautrin, Suite of 5 boxes, circa 1950, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Les filles de Neptune (Daughters of Neptune) by Line Vautrin, suite of 5 boxes in gilded bronze and silvered bronze. Set of 5 boxes by Line Vautrin in gilded bronze and silvered bron...
Bronze
I am, says God, Master of the Three Virtues , gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“I am, says God, Master of the Three Virtues”, gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin. Gilded bronze box whose lid is decorated with an extract from the poem “The Mystery of the Holy Inno...
Bronze
J’ai perdu ma tourterelle, Large gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
J’ai perdu ma tourterelle (I lost my turtledove), large gilded bronze box by Line Vautrin. Large gilded bronze box, the lid engraved with a poem by Jean Passerat (1534 – 1602) and a ...
Bronze
Aime Tant et Plus, Gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin, circa 1946, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
Aime Tant et Plus (Love so much and more), gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin. Gilded bronze box with a rebus message chiseled on the lid that can be interpreted as follows: M for AIME ...
Bronze
Allez laissez couler les jours, Silvered Bronze Box by Line Vautrin, Circa 1945
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Allez laissez couler les jours”, silvered bronze box with hot enameled decoration by Line Vautrin. Silvered bronze box with a rebus-decorated lid, by Line Vautrin. The finely striat...
Bronze
Gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin "The Armenian alphabet'' - 1940
By Line Vautrin
Located in Girona, Girona
Very beautiful gilt bronze box or mirrorless compact. This object has two sides with different motifs representing the Armenian alphabet. Patina re-gilded with fine gold. Design: Li...
Bronze
Line Vautrin's Jewelry box
By Line Vautrin
Located in Paris, FR
Jewelry box by Line Vautrin 1946 Talosel and incrusted mirror 6x4 cm
Talosel
Gilt Bronze Reliquary Pendant by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A piece of wonderful jewelry by Line Vautrin designed in 1941 on the subject of St Foi, a child martyr on the early fourth century and the patron saint of prinsoers, in a rare form of a reliquary...
Bronze
French Sculptured Gilt Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A gilt bronze box or podier by French Jeweler Line Vautrin, in the pattern of "Moise ou la traversee du desert" coric 1940s-1950s. A rare mode in the box, the top surface of the cover illustrates the biblical story of Moses crossing the desert out of Egypt...
Bronze
Silvered Bronze Box with Relief Cast Poem by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful jewelry box in silvered cast bronze by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). From a small special series, the designer created circa 1945-55. on which poems were cast in relief on the cover. Most existing examples features poems that are well-known. This poem, however, was not identified by us, and possibly is a creation of the artist herself. It is a very soulful prose (see the full poem in French below). Signed on the base as shown. We have a gilt bronze box with the same relief cast poem that comes with a three-page Certification in French by Comite Line Vautrin, shown in some photos as well. Reference: For other boxes with poems see "Line Vautrin Sculptor, Jeweller, Magician by Line Vautrin and Patrick Mauries, page 42. "Les glaciers vagabonds qui ébranlent les murs et les anges frileux qui cherchent un asile quand la nuit de décembre anesthésie la ville t’effraient plus que les morts tutélaires et durs Ils désertent pour toi...
Bronze
“L’altruisme est amour” by Line Vautrin, gilt bronze box
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“L’altruisme est amour” (Altruism is love) by Line Vautrin, gilt bronze box. Gilt bronze box, the lid finely chiseled with a rebus. The rebus can be deciphered as follows: * The ins...
Bronze
Large French Sculpted Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large bonze box (based on the size, it is likely a card case) by French Parisian art jewelry designer Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1950s. The box features an interesting design i...
Bronze
French Silvered Bronze Box Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A silvered bronze Poudrier "Le loup et le renard" (The wolf and the fox). by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940s. The square box features a relief cast of two s...
Bronze
Large Rare French Gilt Bronze Box "Pinocchio" by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare cast gilt bronze box "Pinocchio" by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). The elongated lidded box depicts a silouette portrait of the famous boy. The interior...
Bronze
Rare French Small Gilt Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small gilt bronze pill box by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940-50s. The rather rare round box features a relief-cast spider on the lid. The interior ...
Bronze