Jean Mahie

Jean Mahie is a French fine jewelry brand founded in 1969 by a father-in-law and daughter-in-law duo. The brand is known for its unconventional entry into the professional jewelry world in 1970, when it became one of the first artist-led ateliers to create its own work and display it under its own brand name at leading jewelry stores such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Previously, such stores mainly carried pieces executed by workshops for renowned professionals. Every piece is one of a kind, handcrafted, and difficult to reproduce exactly. The brand's style is sculptural and organic, drawing inspiration from so-called primitive cultures and ancient civilizations such as the Hittites, Scythes, Anatolians, Egyptians, Hellenistics, Romans, and Mayans. The founder has stated that the work is not an imitation of these cultures but an attempt to express the reality of the present time through instinct and sensitivity. The brand has been active since 1969, with the founder noting that the work has changed through time. Jean Mahie pieces are sold through select fine jewelry retailers and directly through the brand's website. The brand remains privately held and continues to produce handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewels.

Jean Mahie was founded in 1969 by a father-in-law and daughter-in-law duo. According to the brand's official account, they entered the professional jewelry world in an unconventional way in 1970. They were among the first artists to create their own work and to have it displayed under their own brand name at leading jewelry stores such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Before this, such stores mainly carried pieces executed by workshops for renowned professionals. The founder has stated that everything made is one of a kind, and that repeating a concept always results in something different because it is made by hand. The founder also noted difficulty in reproducing their own work. Active since 1969, the brand's work has changed through time. The founder was never taught to make conventional jewelry and discovered their own style and technique over the years. The style is described as similar to so-called primitive cultures, distinctly different from actual norms. Inspiration is drawn from artifacts of the Hittites, Scythes, Anatolians, Egyptians, Hellenistics, Romans, and Mayans, each holding the stamp of their beliefs. The founder does not claim to be their heir but tries to express the reality of their own time. The brand continues to produce handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewels and sells through select retailers and its website.

• 1970

  Entered professional jewelry world; among first artists to display own brand at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.

• 1969

  Brand founded; founder begins making jewelry.

Artist-led, one-of-a-kind fine jewelry with a sculptural, primitive-inspired aesthetic, sold through leading jewelry retailers and directly.

• One-of-a-kind handcrafted gold jewels

1. 1About | Jean Mahiejeanmahie.com
2. 2Jean Mahiewikidata.org