A French, Art Deco, black onyx, diamond, frosted rock crystal and gold dress-set, by Georges Thibault, with flat circular black onyx centres, surrounded by rose-cut diamonds, in platinum, millegrain edged, pavé settings, with frosted rock crystal borders. The pair of cufflinks has bar fittings. The pair of collar studs has hinged fittings, marked HR, patent Bte SGDG. The four buttons have simple loops for the split pin fittings. Each piece is marked with French eagle marks for 18ct gold and maker's marks, except for the button fittings, which are not gold and are probably plated brass, circa 1925.
Georges Adolphe Thibault was a French jeweller, based in Paris. His maker’s mark was GT, surmounted by a horizontal arrow. He was born on 13th August, 1873, in Rethel, in the Ardennes. His parents were Julie Caroline Manneville, aged 28 and Leon Adolphe, aged 29, a painter, like his grandfather. They lived on rue des Minimes in Rethel. In 1901 he lived at 18 rue de la Sourdière, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, near the church of Saint Roch, this was probably his personal address. Later in 1901, he was registered at 101 rue Réaumur, a district where many manufacturing jewellers settled. It is likely that he was producing custom made jewellery during this period, prior to having a registered maker's punch and it is possible that, by then, he was working with his partner, Jolivot. In 1903 they officially joined forces. Their Thibault & Jolivot maker's punch dates from 11th September, 1903, with the initials T&J and the symbol of an Arrow above. In November, 1913, the Thibault and Jolivot partnership was dissolved but Georges remained at 101 rue Réaumur. Officially setting up on his own on 17th February, 1914, with the registration of his GT maker’s mark. On 7th April, 1914 Thibault had filed a patent with the ONPI, for sprung, expandable bracelet links. The First World War started six months after Georges Thibault's business was registered. He had been exempted from military service, at the review board, in 1891 as he was the only son of a widow. Nevertheless he served from 13th October, 1894 to 24th September, 1895, he was then placed on leave but the War of 1914 took him back into the artillery, on 6th August, 1914, until 5th May, 1916. The army recorded his addresses as 18 Rue des Écoles, in the 5th, then rue Monge in the 11th, place d'Enfert Rocherea, place d'Anger and finally 6 bis Avenue de la Grande Armée, in Paris in the 16th. During the 1920s Georges Thibault produced fine jewellery, in the Art Deco style. In 1924, the newspaper, "Le Petit Parisien", announced the death of his mother. On 16th June, 1924 he filed another patent, with the ONPI (now the INPI), for what looks much like a Cartier folding watch bracelet clasp. His work often featured frosted rock crystal. His workshop produced items for Boucheron, which lead to him being awarded a gold medal, at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, of 1925, in Paris. It is likely that he also made items for Lacloche frères. He was so highly regarded by fellow jewellers that Monsieur Boucheron sent his son, Frederik, to be apprenticed to the Thibault workshop, in 1928. In the year that Georges Thibault turned 60 his maker’s mark was deleted, on 19th December, 1932. He remarried at the age of 71, to Emma Claudine Malot. He died on 6th September, 1955, at the age of 82. Like many of the most skilled fine manufacturing jewellers of the time, there is very little written information about him. Vever did not record him and there are no advertisements, other than in directories.
With thanks to https://richardcourrierdeslecteurs.blogspot.com/ https://www.richardjeanjacques.com/2023/06/georges-alphonse-thibault-un-grand.html and Christies. Translation Google and C. A. Frost
