Stardust: The Work and Life of Jeweler Extraordinaire Frederic Zaavy

Frédéric Zaavy was a master jeweller chosen as the exclusive jeweller for the 21st century revival of Fabergé. His artistic genius lay in painting with precious stones and engineering remarkable settings to hold those stones almost invisibly. Nature, quantum physics, art, music, spirituality, poetry, literature, and even science fiction all shaped his extraordinary world view and taste. Stardust encapsulates the last year of his life, with a text by Gilles Hertzog and a stunning visual narrative by John Bigelow Taylor and Dianne Dubler.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2020
Publisher: Officina Libraria

Frédéric Zaavy, a renowned master jeweller, embarked on a brilliant career that shone like a meteor, but tragically burned out far too soon. Zaavy considered himself the heir to the legacy of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a gem dealer to Louis XIV, and was chosen as the exclusive jeweller for the 21st-century revival of Fabergé. Zaavy's artistic genius lay in his exceptional ability to paint with precious stones and engineer remarkable settings that almost made the stones invisible. His works achieved unparalleled prominence in the thousand-year evolution of French jewellery. The influences on his life and work were diverse, encompassing nature, quantum physics, art, music, spirituality, poetry, literature, and even science fiction. He was a philosopher jeweller, drawing inspiration from various realms to shape his extraordinary world view and exquisite taste.

Stardust, a captivating book, encapsulates the final year of Zaavy's life, from the moment he received the devastating news of his impending death, to the very end, when his life remained vibrant and full of energy. Written by acclaimed French philosophical writer Gilles Hertzog and accompanied by stunning visual narratives by celebrated photographers John Bigelow Taylor and Dianne Dubler, Zaavy's work and life are presented in a captivating portrait that captures both what was and what might have been. The book is available in English and Simplified Chinese, allowing a broader audience to appreciate the artistry and brilliance of Frédéric Zaavy.

Weight: 2022g
Dimension: 255 x 315 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788833671031