22 karat gold pendant, Jean Mahie, 1972

The firm Jean Mahie is the result of the combined efforts of former businessman Jean Marie Mazard and his daughter-in-law Jacline Mazard who began goldsmithing in the late 1960s. The team, known for their bold, sculptural jewels in 22-karat gold, eventually opened a salon on the Place Vendome in Paris. 

In the United States, Jean Mahie's jewels were sold exclusively through Neiman Marcus, a relationship that dates back to 1971 when a buyer from the Dallas-based retailer happened to visit their Paris workshop. The partnership was a great success due largely to the fact that these miniature sculptures were unlike anything else on the market at the time. Jacline Mazard maintained that her creations were never sketched out in advance. She  considered herself a sculptor, not a designer, taking inspiration only from the precious metal itself.