One of the great style icons of the 20th century, Tony Duquette (1914–99) created pieces with a singularly ebullient elegance. Through his private interior-decorating commissions and his work as a stage and movie-set designer, Duquette made his name synonymous with flamboyance, fantasy and glamorous originality.
Duquette was born in Los Angeles and studied at the Chouinard Art Institute. But his true education began in the mid-1930s, first as an assistant to an aging Elsie de Wolfe — the eminent interior designer who many say created the profession — and later as a colleague of William Haines, the famed movie-star-turned-decorator. Duquette’s clients would come to include many Hollywood luminaries — he decorated “Pickfair,” the fabled home of actress Mary Pickford, and homes for producer David O. Selznick and director Vincent Minnelli — and a robust roster of the rich and powerful, among them Doris Duke, J. Paul Getty, Norton Simon and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. All the while, Duquette was designing film and theater sets and costumes. He worked on such films as Kismet, Ziegfeld Follies and Can-Can; he won a Tony award in 1961 for costume design for the original Broadway production of Camelot.
Theatricality is the keynote of the best of Duquette’s designs. He made things that would get attention. Duquette was no purist — he appreciated the spare and sleek as much as the baroque and elaborate — but everything had to provide a visual effect, if not necessarily perform a function. Apart from the furnishings and objects he designed for his grandest decorating commissions, Duquette rarely used precious materials. “Beauty, not luxury, is what I value” was his often-repeated motto. Duquette pieces priced at $10,000 and above tend to be either intricately made or super-scaled or have an interesting ownership provenance. Most of his works are marked at about $5,000.
As you will see on 1stDibs, Tony Duquette created something for anyone who likes big-statement design — providing a showstopper for a lean, modernist decor or an alluring element in a lush, more-is-more interior. A Duquette design says: On with the show!
TONY DUQUETTE, 18K Gold Colombian Emerald Pear Shape Chandelier Earrings 23.00ct
By Tony Duquette
Located in Great Neck, NY
Extremely rare and highly sought after TONY DUQUETTE Columbian Emerald drop earring, An exceptional solid 18k (750 hallmark) pair of ear pendants featuring a beautiful whimsical desi...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Colombian Emerald Diamond Platinum 18K Dangle Earrings
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Delicate and very well handcrafted platinum and 18 karat yellow gold dangle earrings feature a top part of the earrings worked in platinum with sparkly round brilliant cut diamonds. ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
$77,990
H 0.34 in W 0.63 in L 0.66 in
Antique 18k Yellow Gold & Platinum GIA Colombian Emerald & Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Antique 18k Yellow Gold & Platinum GIA Colombian Emerald and Diamond Earrings, crafted with exquisite artistry and refinement. Each earring features a vivid, richly saturated Colombian emerald, prized for its exceptional green hue and natural brilliance. Surrounding the emeralds are 28 old mine cut diamonds, near colorless and measuring 2.5–2.7mm, with a total weight of 2.77tcw. Their antique faceting produces a soft, romantic sparkle that enhances the lush green of the emeralds. The diamonds are set in platinum, providing a striking contrast against the warmth of the 18k yellow gold. Designed with remarkable precision, these earrings reflect the sophistication and technical mastery of European jewelers. The combination of materials, gemstones, and craftsmanship makes this pair both elegant and historically significant. Timeless and collectible, they embody the grandeur of antique fine jewelry at its finest. Weight: 4.08 and 4.27 Grams, 8.35 Total Gram Weight Stone: 7.05tcw Colombian F2 Emeralds...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Colombian Emerald Stud Earrings, 4.00ct in 18K Yellow Gold, New
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Stunning Fine Colombian Emerald Stud Earrings 18K Natural Medium Green Emerald Emerald Cut Total Weight 4.00 carats Earrings Measureme...
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Colombian Emerald Cabochon Dangle Earrings, 18K Yellow Gold, 11.86ct
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Fine Colombian Emerald Cabochon Dangle Earrings Dangles day and night Earrings These Beautiful Earrings are crafted of Solid 18k and 14K Y...
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
18K Yellow Gold Pear-Shaped Colombian Emerald Earrings, 4ct
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Elevate your collection with these sophisticated pear-shaped emerald earrings, showcasing premium Colombian emeralds of AAA+ quality with an intense, captivating hue. Each stone meas...
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
6.00ct Oval Cut Colombian Emerald Stud Earrings in 18K Gold
By Emeralds Maravellous
Located in Brunswick, ME
Timeless Stud Earrings Natural Light-Medium Green Colombian Emerald BIG Oval Cut Total Weight Approx. 6.00 Carats Primary Stones: 100% Natural Colombian Emeralds Shape or Cut: Oval ...
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2.65 ct Natural Pear Emerald and Diamond Classic Pear Earrings, 18K White Gold
By Jewel Palate
Located in Deira, AE
A pear-shaped Zambian emerald in a single round-diamond halo, thirty-two stones tracing the outline, a clean everyday drop. Each piece is hand-fabricated and matched as a true pair,...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
7.73 ct Natural Pear Diamond Tassel Chandelier Earrings, 18K Two-Tone Gold
By Jewel Palate
Located in Deira, AE
A white pear-and-round diamond trefoil surmount suspends a four-row tassel of thirty-six golden pear-shaped diamonds, with white pear diamonds finishing the outer strands. Each piec...
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1.18 ct Natural Pear Emerald and Diamond Pear Double Earrings, 18K White Gold
By Jewel Palate
Located in Deira, AE
A pear-shaped Zambian emerald is ringed by a close double halo of thirty-six round diamonds that follows the teardrop outline exactly. Each piece is hand-fabricated and matched as a...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Retro Handmade Platinum Pear Shape Colombian Emerald Diamond Earrings GIA Cert.
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and captivating drop earrings hand-made in fine platinum. Each earring features a 8.0mm x 12.0mm pear-shaped faceted Colombian emerald stone...
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
7.73 ct Natural Pear Diamond Tassel Chandelier Earrings, 18K Two-Tone Gold
By Jewel Palate
Located in Deira, AE
A white pear-and-round diamond trefoil surmount suspends a four-row tassel of thirty-six golden pear-shaped diamonds, with white pear diamonds finishing the outer strands. Each piec...
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Colombian Emerald 18k White & Yellow Gold Dangle Drop Earrings.GIA
Located in New York, NY
These rare dangling drop earrings are crafted in 18k white and yellow gold and set with gorgeous round emeralds weighing an estimated 3.25 - 3.50 carat each, of modified round brill...
Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Tony Duquette Ruby Diamond Pink Tourmaline Drop Earrings
By Tony Duquette
Located in New York, NY
Dramatic Tony Duquette drop earrings of 18K gold set with large cabochon rubies, diamonds and pink tourmalines, 1 1/16 in x 2 3/4, with hinged pier...
Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Sold
W 1.63 in L 1.75 in
Tony Duquette Coral Turquoise Amethyst and Peridot Gold Statement Clip Earrings
By Tony Duquette
Located in Montreal, QC
Sensational Coral Turquoise Amethyst Peridot Earrings; hand crafted in 18k Gold by Tony Duquette, Designer Extraordinaire! 1.75" long x 1.63"; wide; signed: TONY DUQUETTE 18K; Turquo...
Amethyst, Coral, Peridot, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold
Tony Duquette 18K & Citrine Starburst Earrings
By Tony Duquette
Located in Toronto, ON
Tony Duquette 18k gold and citrine starburst earrings. Pierced backing folds down so can be worn as un-pierced clips as well. Vintage circa 1980's Hollywood Regency. Excellent condit...
Citrine, 18k Gold
Merry and Bright Tony Duquette Coral Diamond Gold Earclips
By Tony Duquette
Located in San Antonio, TX
18 k gold earclips, centering oval fluorite, surrounded by coral cabochons and and diamonds. For pierced and non-pierced ears. Signed, TONY DUQUETTE 18K.
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Tony Duquette Coral Heart Earrings
By Tony Duquette
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 18 karat yellow gold, diamond and coral earrings. Signed Tony Duquette. The earrings are designed as carrots centering a carved coral heart sur...