Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A German Arts and Crafts moonstone pendant by Emil Lettré, circa 1920 - 1930, the quatrefoil pendant collet-set with four cabochon moonstones in closed-back settings, with foliate sprigs between, mounted in gold, on an unassociated curb-link chain, pendant with maker’s mark ‘L’ in circle, pendant length 42mm. £300-£500

Emil Lettré (1876 - 1954) was a German silversmith and goldsmith famed for his technical sophistication and minimalist designs. Born in Hanau, Lettré became Court Goldsmith to Kaiser Wilhelm II before establishing his shop on the Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin. Lettré invited many silversmiths to train under him in Berlin and in 1912 both Bernard Instone and Henry George Murphy apprenticed there. Between the Wars, Lettré was at the height of his fame and in 1936 he was commissioned to design and furnish the interior of the German embassy in London. His shop was bombed in 1944 and many of his designs, objects and jewels were destroyed.