Ernesto Pierret

Ernesto Pierret (1824-1898) was born in Paris but trained as a goldsmith in Rome. Considering the masterful techniques and the materials used in his jewels, he would certainly have been influenced by the famous Castellani workshop, but some speculate that he may have apprenticed there as well. By 1846 he opened his own workshop, developing a clientele for his jewelry designs in the archaeological revival style. Murray’s Handbook to Central Italy and Rome (1863) acclaims Pierret as being “now of the finest artists in Rome for Etruscan jewellery”.  His designs incorporated micromosaics, cameos, intaglios as well as ancient scarabs and coins. Jewels by Pierret seldom appear on the market today, and the brooch offered here is a rare example of Egyptian inspiration at the level of quality found in museum collections. 

For other examples of jewels by Ernesto Pierret see The Art of the Jeweller, The Hull Grundy Gift to the British Museum: Jewellery Engraved Gems and Goldsmiths’ Work, Charlotte Gere, Judy Rudoe, Hugh Tait, Timothy Wilson, 1984, Vol II, color plate 43, nos. 376, 957, and 984.