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!
H 0.63 in W 2.38 in L 4.13 in
Tony Duquette Crowned Monkey Brooch or Pendant
By Tony Duquette
Located in Carmel, CA
This Fabulous Tony Duquette piece features a signature 'monkey' figure with a crown of Amethyst. Stones include: Two Oval and three Hexagon shaped Pink Tourmalines weigh 36.40 cara...
Amethyst, Citrine, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
W 2.6 in L 3.1 in
Tony Duquette 18k Yellow Gold Citrine Starburst Pendant Brooch
By Tony Duquette
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Citrine starburst pendant brooch, featuring pear, oval and square-shaped citrine set in 18k yellow gold. Hinged fold down pendant loop at top...
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
W 2.5 in L 1.8 in
1950's Tony Duquette 18kt Yellow Gold Angel Brooch
By Tony Duquette
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A, Tony Duquette brooch originally the design was created for Elizabeth Duquette by her husband, using an antique lava carving technique, diamonds a...
Citrine, Jade, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
H 1.5 in W 1.5 in
14K Yellow Gold Smoky Quartz Brooch
Located in Queens, NY
14K Yellow Gold Smoky Quartz Brooch, designed as a floral frame with one centered prong set round brilliant cut smoky quartz weighing approx. 34.40 carats, worn through fabric with p...
Quartz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
H 0.67 in W 0.97 in L 1.85 in
1950s French Smoky Quartz and Yellow Gold Turtle Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage French smoky quartz and 18 karat yellow gold turtle brooch; part of our diverse gemstone jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive vintage brooch has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The brooch has been realistically modelled in the form of a turtle. The turtle's shell and body have been crafted from fine and impressive carved smoky quartz; the quartz shell has been carved to represent the pattern of a realistic turtle shell. The impressive smoky quartz is conjoined to the brooch mount via an 18k yellow gold rope twist design around the turtle's neck and a plain band encompassing the tail. The vintage brooch secures to the reverse with a hallmarked hinged pin and clasp fastening. This impressive vintage brooch has been hallmarked to the pin and the underside of the setting with the French mark for 18k gold (eagle's head) and the maker's mark. This impressive vintage quartz brooch is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card. NOTE: * Smoky quartz is a brownish-gray crystal which can vary from transparent to almost-opaque. This crystal was known as the 'Stone of Power' with many cultures using the stone in rituals and tribal ceremonies to draws in the light, in addition to negative energy. These positive phenomenal powers made this stone an important defence against psychic attack, emotional and environmental stress, and it is to be considered as a vital part of healing and meditation. Images do not always reflect the true color and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual color and showcases each stone. Condition This stunning vintage quartz brooch is fine quality set, with fine and impressive carved smoky quartz. The brooch is a very good gauge of gold and is in excellent condition, with very clear French hallmarks struck to the underside of the setting and the pin. Dimensions Length of setting 4.7cm/1.85" Width of setting 2.47cm/0.97" Across pin 2.2cm/0.87" Height of setting 1.71cm/0.67" Weight 22.67 grams Date: Circa 1950 Origin: France, Europe Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine example of vintage smoky quartz...
Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Rose Gold Smoky Quartz and Tzavorite Garavelli Brooch
By Garavelli
Located in Valenza, IT
Garavelli brooch , in rose gold 18 kt with Smokey Quartz and Tzavorite - made in Italy 18kt GOLD grs : 3.22 Round multifaceted natural smoky quartz su...
Quartz, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
H 0.61 in W 1.3 in L 1.65 in
Victorian 44.68 Carat Smoky Quartz and Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive, large antique Victorian 44.68 carat smoky squartz and 15 karat yellow gold brooch; part of our diverse antique jewellery and estate jewelry collectio...
Quartz, Yellow Gold
Eighteen Karat Yellow Gold Drop Brooch with Smoky Quartz and Beryl
By Polya Medvedeva Jewellery
Located in Berlin, DE
This Contemporary Brooch is made of 18 karat yellow gold with cabochon beryl and smoky quartz. It has a crocodile detail on the side of one gem. We work with german gems company, tha...
Beryl, Diamond, Quartz, Sapphire, Green Beryl, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold,...
14K Yellow Gold Bassani Italy Smoky Quartz Brooch
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A striking and sculptural Italian Modernist brooch by Bassani, centered with an impressive emerald-cut smoky quartz weighing approximately 68.30 carats. The gemstone is mounted in a ...
Quartz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
H 0.38 in W 0.96 in L 1.4 in
Vintage 14k Yellow Gold Smoky Quartz Bumblebee Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 14k yellow gold bumblebee brooch featuring a richly hued smoky quartz body. Expertly crafted with fine detail, this charming piece captures the whimsical spirit of nature wit...
Quartz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
