Jean Mahie 22K Large Snake Motif Ring, French, C. 1977

Bold, vibrant and full of life, the remarkably ebullient gold jewelry of French brand Jean Mahie has dazzled collectors from the moment it first appeared. Featuring motifs derived from classical mythology and ancient architecture, Jean Mahie earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories are characterized by sinuous lines and simple, primordial shapes.

Painter and sculptor Jacline Mazard was at loose ends with her art career when her father-in-law, sculptor and goldsmith Jean-Marie Mazard, recognized her potential and invited her to join him in his workshop in the South of France. Self-taught, Jean-Marie Mazard shared his love of working with gold with his daughter-in-law, and the pair began collaborating in 1969 under the name Jean Mahie. 

A shrewd businessman, Jean-Marie Mazard focused on efforts to market the pair’s striking creations, and with the support of a public relations executive, early publicity promptly resulted in acclaim and wide recognition. Their work eventually fit snugly alongside the candy-colored gems and bohemian fashions of the late 1960s and 1970s, an era of free expression and fascination with cultures around the world that yielded vibrant jewelry with global influences.

Working with 22-karat yellow gold, Jean Mahie’s founders produced bold designs that drew on architecture and artifacts of Mediterranean history, inspired by Jacline’s childhood, which took shape not far from the ruins of ancient Carthage in Tunisia. Their textured, sculptural link necklaces, cuff bracelets, dangle earrings and other pieces garnered praise from the likes of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, both of which engaged in partnerships with Jean Mahie. Neiman Marcus later became the sole retailer of the brand’s jewelry.

Jean-Marie Mazard passed away in 1994. Jacline Mazard now designs alongside her son and daughter in their studio in New York City.

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