Marcel Boucher

Marcel Boucher part two

Marcel Boucher

During World War II, when base metals were restricted for war use, Boucher moved the company to Mexico in order to exploit the country's silver supplies. After the war was over, the Mexican operation was sold and Boucher moved back to New York City.

Marcel Boucher

In 1949, Boucher's business partner, Arthur Halberstadt decided to leave the company. Consequently Boucher invited French designer Sandra Semensohn to become his design assistant. Scmensohn left to work for Tiffany & Co. from 1958 to 1961, before returning to Boucher. Later she became his second wife.

The company's work under Boucher and Semensohn in the 1950s followed the more sober trend for elegant, classic-looking pieces resembling fine jewelry. Boucher's standard—both for materials and design—remained high, so these items are also valuable.

Marcel Boucher

Key pieces from this period include buckle motifs; leaf-forms decorated with rhinestones, especially in parurcs; and animal pins. Boucher also designed some plain gilt pieces that are likely to become highly collectible.

Marcel Boucher

His work with cabochon pastes during the 1950s and 1960s is especially fine: he used unusual lozenge-shaped pastes that suggested uncut precious stones, and set them in exquisite metalwork alongside myriad small, faceted rhinestones to create fabulously intricate pieces.

Marcel Boucher

Early pieces were marked "MB"—topped with a Phrygian cap, the symbol of the French Revolution from 1944 onward. This mark can be hard for the untrained eye to identify, as it was very small, so if in doubt contact a reputable dealer.

Marcel Boucher

 A lesser-quality line was marked "Marboux." Later pieces were signed "Marcel Boucher" or "Boucher," with the copyright symbol.




 Additionally, almost all pieces produced from cl945 onwards were marked with a style-inventory number, which can help 

Marcel Boucher

with dating, although consideration should also be given to later production runs.

When Boucher died in 1965, Scmensohn took over the company,

maintaining the quality of the work. In 1972, Boucher et Cie was sold to Dovorn Industries, an American watch manufactory. In 1976 Boucher et Cie. was sold again to the Canadian company D'Orlan, which was run by Maurice Braddcn, who had trained under Boucher himself. Until 2006, when the company closed its doors, D'Orlan produced replicas of Marcel Boucher's designs using his original molds.