LINE VAUTRIN (1913-1997)

Born into a family of metal founders, Line Vautrin was a pioneer in the field of innovative jewelry design. Known as the “poetess of metal”, by age 14, she had mastered casting, chasing, and gilding, and at 15, she began creating artistic costume jewelry in gilt metal. Initially working as a door-to-door saleswoman in Paris, Vautrin's breakthrough came at the 1937 Paris International Exposition, leading her to open a small shop in Rue de Berri.

Her creations, made primarily in the 1940s and 1950s from resins, glass, and bronze, are celebrated for their inventiveness and experimental nature. Vautrin's work was influenced by ancient motifs, primitive art, and avant-garde designs. She opened a boutique and workshop in the Marais, fostering a model social enterprise. In the 1960s, she patented a new technique using synthetic resin and mirror-glass, leading to the creation of her famed mirrors. After retiring from business, she dedicated herself to teaching and continued to explore new artistic techniques until her passing.