Henri Vever managed the family business, Maison Vever, throughout a period that saw the emergence of the Art Nouveau movement in Paris. Born in 1854 in Metz, he balanced a career as an entrepreneur and jewelry designer with the intensive pursuit of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints and broader fine art collections.
Contributions to Jewelry Design
At the 1900 Exposition Universelle, Vever showcased jewelry pieces that relied on the innovative application of enamel and precious gemstones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Collaborating with the illustrator Eugène Grasset, he produced designs inspired by European mythology and naturalistic motifs. His commitment to the craft led to a significant donation in 1924, when he gifted approximately one hundred pieces produced by his firm alongside 250 French jewelry items to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, covering works from the French Revolution through the turn of the century.
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Vever began collecting Japanese woodblock prints in the 1880s, sourcing items from dealers such as Hayashi Tadamasa. He joined Les Amis de l'Art Japonais, a circle of enthusiasts including Claude Monet. His holdings became a primary resource for scholars like von Seidlitz, Migeon, and Lemoisne, the latter of whom utilized Vever's prints for L'Estampe Japonaise. During World War I, he sold 7,996 prints to the industrialist Matsukata Kōjirō. Despite this, Vever continued to acquire works from the collections of figures such as Gonse, Haviland, Manzi, Isaac, and Javal until he ceased collecting in the 1930s.
Public Service and Legacy
Beyond his artistic and commercial activities, Vever served as the mayor of Noyers in 1905. In 1939, he was appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour. After his death in 1942 at Noyers, he was interred at Montparnasse Cemetery. His private art collection, which had disappeared during the German occupation of France, surfaced in 1974 when Sotheby's announced a series of four auctions held in London between 1974 and 1997.
Fast facts
- Born: 1854, Metz
- Died: 1942, Noyers
- Occupations: Goldsmith, entrepreneur, mayor, art collector
- Positions: Mayor of Noyers (1905)
- Awards: Officer of the Legion of Honour (1939)
- Notable Works: Maison Vever, Japanese Prints & Drawings from the Vever Collection (catalog)
Questions readers ask
What happened to the Vever collection after the 1930s?
The collection disappeared during the German occupation of France in the 1940s and did not resurface until 1974 when Sotheby's auctioned it in London.
Did Henri Vever have any connection to the 1928 Winter Olympics?
Yes, his grandson, François Mautin, competed in the ice hockey tournament at the 1928 Winter Olympics.
Achievements
- Officer of the Legion of Honour — 1939
- Holdings: Maison Vever
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