Mellerio dits Meller

Mellerio dits Meller is a French jewellery house, which was founded in 1613 and is still active today. It is the oldest family-owned jewellery company in Europe.[2] It gives its name to the Mellerio cut, a 57-facet jewel cut, shaped as an oval within an ellipse.[3] Since 1815, Mellerio has been based on Rue de la Paix in Paris.[4] It is a member of the Comité Colbert and also of the Henokiens, an international association of family companies over 200 years old. Directors François and Olivier Mellerio are the fourteenth generation to run the family business.

History

The firm traces its history to 1613, when it was established in Paris by the Mellerio family (originally from Valle Vigezzo) under the patronage of Queen Marie de Médicis.[5]

Notable works

Mellerio has an archive of about 100,000 items.[5]

Trophies

Mellerio made the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, which has been awarded to the winner of the Men's Singles competition at the French Open since 1981. It is in the form of a large silver bowl, with a vine leaf trim. Winners receive a pure silver replica of the trophy, specially made and engraved for each winner by Mellerio.

Mellerio has made ceremonial swords for members of the Académie française, including François Cheng. Each sword is unique, with the hilt decorated with symbols of its owner's achievements.[8]

Tiaras and royal jewels

The Mellerio Shell tiara was given to Infanta Isabella of Spain as a wedding present from her mother Queen Isabella II in 1868. The tiara had been made by Mellerio for the 1867 Paris Exhibition. It is made of diamonds in the shape of shells decorated with pearls. It remains part of the Spanish royal family jewels, worn today by Queen Sofia of Spain.

Mellerio is also attributed with the creation of the Spanish Floral Tiara, made of diamonds in a pattern of flowers, which was a wedding gift to the future Queen Sofia from General Franco on her marriage to Juan Carlos of Spain in 1962.

The jewel collection of the Dutch royal family includes a tiara made by Mellerio for Queen Emma. The ruby tiara is part of a set made in 1889. The parure was designed by Oscar Massin and made by Mellerio. Commissioned by King Willem III as a 30th birthday gift for Queen Emma, this tiara is part of a larger ruby parure which included a tiara, necklace, bracelet, brooch, stomacher, earrings, and a fan. The cost of the parure was significant, around 160,000 guilders at the time. This parure remains an important part of the Dutch royal jewelry collection and has been worn by several generations of Dutch queens and princesses.

Mellerio also made the rose-pattern diamond tiara bought by Victor Emmanuel II of Italy for the 1868 wedding of his son, Prince Umberto, to Margherita of Savoy.

A 1742 peacock brooch by Mellerio was worn by Anita Delgado as princess of Kapurthala.[9]

trade name	Mellerio dits Meller
type	Private (Société Anonyme)
industry	Jewellery
founded	1613
founder	Mellerio family
hq location	9 Rue de la Paix Paris
hq location country	France
key people	Laure-Isabelle Mellerio (President and artistic director)‡R1R‡
products	Rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants
owner	Mellerio family
website	https://mellerio.fr/

Mellerio dits Meller

History

Notable works

Trophies

Tiaras and royal jewels

Mellerio family

Further reading

External links

References