Charles Fontana et Cie

Artist / Designer

Enola Duboscq

Provenance

Property from a Distinguished European Collection

Condition Report

In 1871, Charles Fontana took over the jewellery house founded by his father in 1840 in the Palais-Royal district of Paris. He subsequently joined forces with his cousins, Joseph Fontana and Alexandre Templier, a partnership that lasted until 1882. The firm quickly established a reputation for excellence, distinguished by the quality of its craftsmanship and its classically inspired style. While drawing inspiration from the Art Nouveau and later the Art Deco movements, it generally interpreted these artistic currents with restraint and elegance. Following the dissolution of their partnership, the cousins founded the house of Fontana Frères before reacquiring the original firm in 1896. Today, the archives of the House of Fontana are preserved by Chaumet, providing a valuable record of the history of this Parisian dynasty of jewellers.