Christian BONNET
GENUINE TORTOISESHELL CRAFTSMANSHIP

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Écaille de tortue © Maison Bonnet, Paris 2021
(Detail) Beautiful work created in tortoiseshell by Maison Bonnet, Christian Bonnet © Maison Bonnet, Paris 2024

In the 1930s, a very young Alfred Bonnet ventured into bespoke eyewear, little suspecting that he was writing the first chapter of his family's future. A native of the Jura region, he naturally immersed himself in the historical expertise of his area; it was under the guidance of the greatest masters that he specialized in gold and tortoiseshell, becoming one of the guardians of a vanishing art. The 1950s belonged to his son Robert, who was neither short of words nor dreams and had a grand vision. Armed with the knowledge learned from his father and a stunning charm, he moved to Paris and founded Maison Bonnet as it is known today. This expertise, comparable to haute couture, captivated the international jet set and traditional luxury clientele: Yves Saint Laurent, Jackie and Aristotle Onassis, and François Mitterrand swore by his entirely handmade, bespoke creations. Then came the 1980s; Christian, his son, was level-headed and possessed expert hands. As retail chains emerged and tradition became rare, he elevated his craftsmanship to an art form. His knowledge and mastery earned him the title of Maître d’Art from the Ministry of Culture in 2000, followed by his appointment as a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2008.

Contact

Christian BONNET
5 rue des Petits-Champs 75001 PARIS +33 (0) 1 42 96 46 35 +33 (0) 6 08 36 78 53 mariechristine.bonnet@gmail.com

[UFE number : 475]

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