The first monograph dedicated to jeweler extraordinaire, Frédéric Zaavy, coming Fall 2020.
Zaavy’s brilliant career as a master jeweler shone like a meteor but flamed out far too soon when he became terminally ill. He considered himself heir to the legacy of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, gem dealer to Louis XIV, he’s often compared to JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal), and was chosen as the exclusive jeweler for the 21st century revival of Fabergé. Zaavy, a third generation diamond merchant, used hundreds or thousands of tiny gems on each piece to create mosaic effects on rings, brooches, earrings and necklaces. He worked from his Parisian studio and spent time in California (Gemological Institute of America), New York (Diamond District), Quebec Canada, and traveled extensively for inspiration. Friends and collectors – including Simon De Pury and Ann Ziff – know Zaavy’s work to be the definition of decadence and luxury.
Stardust: The Work and Life of Jeweler Extraordinaire Frédéric Zaavy encapsulates the last year of his life, from the moment he learned he would soon die, right through to the end, with his life still at full throttle. With text by acclaimed French philosophical writer Gilles Hertzog and a stunning visual narrative by celebrated photographers John Bigelow Taylor and Dianne Dubler, Zaavy’s work and life are presented in a portrait of what was and of what might have been. John and Dianne have contributed to over 300 books including Madeleine Albright’s Read My Pins: Stories From a Diplomat’s Jewel Box,Elizabeth Taylor’s My Love Affair with Jewelry, and Faking It by Kenneth J. Lane.
