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What's new?
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2 novembre 2023, Book
You perhaps purchased one or both of my previous books – Traditional French Jewellery and/or French Precious Metal Hallmarks since 1789.
I’m pleased to announce the publication of my first novel, INDIVIDUAL, and I’d like you to be one of the very first to know about it.
I first started working on this book over twenty years ago, as the various pieces just fell into place while I was driving over 50,000 kilometers per year around France buying antique jewellery.
It started out as an amusing thought exercise, but as I drove (with my mind wandering somewhat) on the motorways over the years, solutions to the various problems and bottlenecks within the story just kept dropping into place and I became enchanted with how it was becoming increasingly interesting and elegant. I finally decided to write it down, in a rough form, and then polished it up whenever I had some time. Then I became divorced and with two children to bring up virtually alone, spare time pretty well disappeared.
I recently found the story on my computer, reread it, still loved it and decided to publish it as it is, having polished and updated it (farewell to references to floppy disks and VHS tapes !)
I’m more accustomed to writing non-fiction references about jewellery, this is my first foray into fiction. It was not written because I had any particular ambition to do so, nor because I have any particular talent. It was written because the story just came to me and it was too good to let go. It's been professionally edited and polished, it has nothing to envy from the works of more experienced writers.
What’s the book about? Friends who have read the manuscript say it’s similar to The DaVinci Code and even more fascinating. I can only hope it does as well (80 million copies sold) !
I’ve printed a very limited edition of 500 hardback copies in order to propose them to the faithful clients who purchased my other books. I’m hoping some of you will be able to enthusiastically mention the book to others until a copy lands in the hands of a film producer, as it’s ideally suited to make a film.
If you love reading novels, you’ll adore this one. If you rarely read novels, try this and you’ll change your mind. If you never read novels, buy a copy and give it as a gift to an avid reader.
First editions of books that become popular are collectors' items – a first edition of Harry Potter is worth some £50,000 now. If this book becomes a best seller, you’ll be very glad to have your copy, which can be signed upon request. Only one copy will be sold per subscriber.
Imagine if J. K. Rowland or Dan Brown had written to you asking you to buy a first edition of their book, would you have said yes? This is your chance to not miss out ! If you've met me, or read my books, you'll know that I only publish when I'm absolutely certain the book is as perfect as can be and is excellent value for money. This book really is an excellent read, it's become the one I'm most proud of, and you'll be so glad you took the plunge. I'm offering a money-back guarantee of satisfaction too!
I know you’re going to love this book.
To order, you can send a wire transfer or WISE transfer to Michael Fieggen - FR76 4061 8803 9700 0403 3233 171 – BIC – BOUSFRPPXXX - address Mike Fieggen, 278 rue Saint Honoré, Paris, 75001 France
Bank or wire transfer by www.wise.com in Sterling – Account holder - Michael Fieggen
IBAN - GB68TSBS30916200184462 BIC / SWIFT - TSBSGB2AXXX
Sterling or euros cheques are welcome and PayPal is possible at the address demosthenesparis@gmail.com. The book can also be collected in my jewellery shop in Paris next to the Louvre.
Any questions ? Email me at mike@bijoux.expert
One copy in English £25 sterling Postage and packing worldwide £4 sterling
A limited first edition of 500 hardcover books is being printed with a limit of one copy per person. Each book will be numbered and signed by the author. Get your collectors first edition copy before the paperback version is released.
2 novembre 2023, Book
Launch of the new hallmarks book Les Poinçons Français de 1789 à ce jour
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After a career spanning 42 years on three continents dealing in antique jewellery and four years of research, I'm pleased to finally be able to announce the release of my book on hallmarks. Each official hallmark is illustrated with a design carefully checked against real hallmarks and is, in many cases, also illustrated with a photograph. The uses of each hallmark is noted along with its period of use. A listing gives details of every assay office mark, the tiny mark in each hallmark that shows in which town it was struck, along with the opening and closing dates of each assay office. These details allow the date of manufacture of jewellery and silverware to be determined with precision.
For the first time ever, assay office marks as well as opening and closing dates are given for the 58 assay offices opened in the European towns occupied by France during the Napoleonic wars. Jewels and silverware were struck in these towns with French hallmarks.
This reference corrects the numerous errors found in all the current books and is destined to become THE standard reference on offical French hallmarks. Format 148 x 210mm (A5), 192 pages, glossy 150g paper, hardcover and sewn.
Note that this book can be ordered now but is still being printed and will be delivered mid February 2024
Possibility of being signed by the author, Michael C. W. Fieggen.
To order, you can send a bank transfer or WISE transfer to Michael Fieggen - FR76 4061 8803 9700 0403 3233 171 – BIC – BOUSFRPPXXX - address Mike Fieggen, 280 rue Saint Honoré, Paris, 75001 France
Bank or wire transfer by www.wise.com in Sterling – Account holder - Michael Fieggen
IBAN - GB68TSBS30916200184462 BIC / SWIFT - TSBSGB2AXXX
Sterling cheques are welcome and PayPal is possible at the address demosthenesparis@gmail.com. The book can also be collected in my jewellery shop in Paris next to the Louvre.
Any questions ? Contact me at bijouregional@gmail.com
One copy in French €59 Postage and packing €7 for France, €5 for Europe and overseas
Two or more copies in French €59 each Postage and packing €7 for the lot in France, overseas postage €5 each
This book is in French, however it is supplied with a PDF file with every page translated into clear English
15 July 2022, Book
New book on maker's marks
Dictionnaire des joailliers, bijoutiers et orfèvres
The fruit of this incredible undertaking, the Dictionnaire des joailliers, bijoutiers et orfèvres is structured around two volumes: a dictionary and an index. The dictionary contains approximately 40,000 entries for jewellers, goldsmiths, silversmiths-gilders, chasers and creators and is accompanied by the description of 25,000 maker's marks, of which 9,000 are reproduced in the form of drawings made on a stylized base. The second volume offers an index, allowing to find the craftsmen of the first volume from the description of their hallmark.
The publication of this book is an event, both in terms of its content and its ambition. The dictionary not only brings together some 40,000 names of craftsmen working in metal between 1850 and today, it offers a comprehensive biographical note for each of them: dates, successive addresses, name of the shop, manufacturer's specialities, the companies for which he worked, brief description of the hallmark, date of creation – that is to say of official deposit – and documentary references. The dictionary thus brings together an incredible amount of knowledge, based on the archives of the Paris hallmark office, very rich first-hand documentation, and professional almanacs, in particular the Azur almanacs, supplemented by research at the National Archives. This book is an original working tool and a reference work for professionals and amateurs interested in contemporary goldsmithing and jewellery (since 1850).
Description :
Box combining two volumes
Dictionary: 2400 pages
Index: 1056 pages
Size 140 x 205mm
Black and white interior print
Glued square back
Boxing
Limited and numbered edition of 1 to 520 copies
French language
A publication of L'École des Arts Joailliers with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Very small format, 14 x 20 cm, this book is printed on very thin paper to make it compact.
You can order this book here :
14th July 2022, Hallmarks
Hallmarks
I'm working at the moment on volume II of the book Traditional French Jewellery, dedicated to traditional French jewellery. You already know some of the chapters, as they're on this website; Baptism, Communion, Marriage, Sentimental jewels. There will also be a chapter on corporate jewels and the hallmark chapter will be expanded to include every single French hallmark (Volume I was limited to those hallmarks that one is likely to find on regional jewels).
There is an urgent need for an accurate book on French hallmarks, as I discovered during my research that all of the current hallmark books are full of errors, the authors having simply copied off each other for almost 200 years!
While you're waiting for this book to be published, you can find many of my hallmark drawings and research on this website : osprey.fr . I'm sorry but I just don't have the time to copy them all onto this website, it's a slow process and I prefer to dedicate my time to getting Volume II finished. Mike
8th June 2022 - Regional jewellery, Guyenne - Gascony
Montauban cross
Montauban cross in gold, front and back
This rare cross is only known to the author by three examples. A cross in the collection of Mucem and bequeathed by Michel Yvon, is devoid of pendants and hallmarks; its attribution to the town of Montauban was given by Michel Yvon.
The illustrated copy has no hallmarks, however another example, almost identical, is stamped with the helmet hallmark of 1819-1838 and the assay office mark M from Cahors, roughly 60km from Montauban.
Another very similar but smaller example is known with the hallmark of Montauban. For the moment we do not know if there is a difference between the crosses of Cahors and Montauban, it is advisable to await the discovery of other specimens.
19 February 2022 - Regional jewellery, Auvergne
Painting by Auguste Vazeille (1850-1900) dated 1876 of a woman from Le Puy en Velay wearing a "rangs d'or" necklace as well as some créole earrings. Auguste Vazeille was a painter and photographer and it's likely this painting was based on a photo taken by him.
Auguste Vazeille, woman from Le-Puy-en-Velay, 1876
28th August 2021 - Regional jewellery - n°250
New book - Traditional French Jewellery
Book - Traditional French Jewellery - order here direct from the author
Dear collectors, auctioneers, dealers and jewellery lovers,
You have visited the site www.bijouxregionaux.com which for twelve years now has listed all regional and traditional French jewellery, without advertising and without sales. By popular demand, this website is now finally available as a book, much more complete and with many new photos and texts that are not on the site. I traveled more than 4,500 km in 2020 to visit the various collectors and museums of France and to photograph, weigh, measure and examine their jewellery.
Large format of 23.5 x 30 cm, 304 pages, hardcover and fully illustrated with over 1300 jewels in colour, this book is the first complete book on French regional jewellery and corrects the many errors and gaps observed in the other references and presents other regional jewels hitherto unknown to the public. You will find eight full pages on Breton pins and fibulae and many other jewels in museums and private collections that are not on this website. Over four months of research has gone into making the chapter on hallmarks the most reliable ever seen - clear illustrations of hallmarks have been made especially for this volume. And for the first time, collectors will have access to a complete list of all the assay office symbols, small signs withn the hallmarks that identify in which city the jewellery was hallmarked. The opening and closing dates since 1798 of the hallmark offices are also listed for the first time, allowing, with the office symbol, to better date your jewellery.
The print run of this book is very limited, which is why I recommend you order early. You will love this book I have had nothing but compliments and many clients have ordered more to offer as gifts.
To order, you can send a wire transfer or WISE transfer to Michael Fieggen - FR76 4061 8803 9700 0403 3233 171 – BIC – BOUSFRPPXXX - address Mike Fieggen, 280 rue Saint Honoré, Paris, 75001 France
Bank or wire transfer by www.wise.com in Sterling – Account holder - Michael Fieggen
IBAN - GB68TSBS30916200184462 BIC / SWIFT - TSBSGB2AXXX
Sterling cheques and PayPal welcome to address demosthenesparis@gmail.com.
Any questions ? Contact me at bijouregional@gmail.com or by telephone at + 33 1 4015 9000
One copy in French €75 Postage and packing €9 for France, €8 for Europe and overseas
Two or more copies in French €75 each Postage and packing €9 for the lot in France, overseas postage €8 each
One or more copies in English £75 sterling each Postage and packing £8 sterling each
30th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Savoy - n°249
Gold Tarentaise Jeannette cross, with central motifs of the Saint Maurice cross and the Holy Spirit
27th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Normandy - n°248
necklace made of three catches, gold and enamel
click on the photos to enlarge them in high resolution
27th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Centre - Loire Valley - n°247
gold shell cameo ear pendants
26th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Introduction - n°246
Saint Lô cross in silver and Rhinestones where the polished-off culets have been imitated by black painted spots
At the end of the 19th century, the Parisian jewellers making French regional jewellery would do their best to make them look as antique as possible. On antique diamonds and Rhinestones, the bottom point of the stone, the culet, was polished off and so in order to make the modern cut stones look like the antique ones, the jewellers would paint a black spot on the culet of the stone.
26th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Savoy - n°245
Gold Tarentaise Jeannette cross, with central motifs of the Saint Maurice cross and the Holy Spirit
26th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Auvergne - n°244
three pairs of "briquet' ear pendants, popular in the Auvergne and Dauphiné regions
20th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Auvergne - n°243
"rang d'or" necklace in gold and enamel
15th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - North - n°242
French folk costume with very long ear pendants
and soleil coiffe - Pas de Calais region - antique postcard
15th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Auvergne - n°241
traditional mountain folk dress from Auvergne
15th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Poitou - n°240
Folk costume from Poitou
15th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Savoy - n°239
Bressane folk costume
8th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Savoy - n°238
publicity by Mr. Bonsaquet of Chambéry
6th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Provence - n°237
Provençale badine cross from the Arles region, in pink gold, diamonds and black enamel
6th March 2020 - Regional jewellery - Poitou - n°236
csilver châtelaine clip, Poitou
29th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Champagne - Ardenne - n°235
croix de Valloire en or (copie moderne)
Valloire cross in gold
29th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Aquitaine - n°234
Woman from the valley d'Ossau in gala costume
29th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Centre, Loire Valley - n°233
Market gardener from Vendée with cape and silver cape clasp
Ring "à la française"
'Bagues à la française' en or et strass
It should be noted that the moulds and dies used to make the French rings known as "bague à la Française", popular in Vendée and Normandy, were also used to make "poissarde" earrings, brooches and even some stick-pins.
Guimbarde brooches
Men's guimbarde brooch in silver, decorated with double hearts and used to hold the shirt closed
illustration from 1903 showing how the guimbarde pin was used to close the shirt
men's heart-shaped guimbarde topped with a crown and pierced by an arrow, silver
men's heart-shaped guimbarde pin topped with a crown and a crucifix and pierced by an arrow, silver, 1798-1809
men's double heart-shaped guimbarde pin topped with a crown and a cross and pierced by an arrow, silver,
Vendéen brooch in stamped out and engraved silver
Vendéen stick-pin in stamped out and engraved silver
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Chouan pendant in silver, modern
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23rd February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Poitou region - n°232
silver cape clasp
silver cape clasp
21st February 2020 - Regional jewellery - North - Pas de Calais region - n°231
Three-pansy necklace worn with regional costume from Le Portel
20th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Poitou - n°230
Women's cape clasp with central flower motif without palmette terminals
silver cape clasp
20th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Centre - Loire Valley - n°229
overcoat catch in engraved and openworked silver
9th February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Antilles - n°228
"rang d'or" necklace in gold
1st February 2020 - Regional jewellery - Antilles - n°227
"chenille" (caterpillar) earrings and "chou" (cabbage) necklace
"chenille" (caterpillar) earrings and "chou" (cabbage) necklace
26th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Picardy - n°226
Amiens cross in silver
24th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Normandy II - n°224
épingle de fichu
24th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Brittany - n°223
Brittany cross in silver, front and back view
24th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Provence - n°222
The Dauphiné clover cross
small Dauphiné clover cross in gold
23rd January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Normandy II - n°221
postcard of Normandy regional jewellery
15th January 2020 - The Jewels of the French - Earrings and ear pendants - n°220
gold and Rhinestone creoles, popular with Gypsies
traditional créoles in gold with their facetted spheres
15th January 2020 - Engagement - n°219
Men's engagement rings in enamelled gold (150%)
14th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Alsace Lorraine - n°218
Lorraine cross with thistle motif
14th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Normandy II - n°217
coiffe pin in gold and
Bressan enamel
14th January 2020 - The Jewels of the French - Good luck charms - n°216
gold ring with horse-shoe motif set with pearls and sapphires
14th January 2020 - Regional jewellery - Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur - n°215
provençale creole earrings in gold and coral
