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We were visiting L'Ousteau de Beaumaniere in Les Baux-de-Provence and apart from the very famous restaurants and gardens, there is also a lovely shop that sells homewares, food, wine and jewellery.
One collection of silver bracelets, hearings and other adnorments caught our eyes and the lovely lady in the shop mentioned that the artist was actually local and lived and worked down the road (route d'Arles), and was practically open for business 24/7.
So we took our time and visited the other restaurant at La Cabre d'Or and their gardens and finally ended up  chez Jacques Moniquet.
This is the most amazing place...small shop and a few showcases full of the most amazing silver jewellery I have ever seen. In order to understand where I am coming from, one of my old time friends used to work for the best Paris houses, and also I have been exposed to the traditional silver craft in Tasco, Mexico, going back centuries.
So I am familiar with the ancient traditions as well as the most modern pieces.
And here I was, incapable of uttering a single word, just looking and absorbing what was on offer...
Jacques saw my bewilderment and started slowly to tell us about his wonderful craft:
First of all, there are no two pieces the same (and there are a couple of hundreds on display) and then his techique is quite unique as he is forging the metal into these Noebius inspired designs by hammering the metal into his elaborate creations.
The metal then acquires different properties, including a natural spring effect.
Next step, we were in his workshop, where he is showing us how he does it, starting by plying copper rods into his will, then when satisfied with the shape, repeating the process on the much more expensive silver.
After quite a while, we went back to the showroom, and by then, it was clear he had us hooked, and ready to try some of his collection on ourselves.
Jacques also noticed I was wearing a wedding ring by Frank Gehry and a very unusual silver bracelet, which shape went around the wrist bone very confortably( bought on the Grand Place in Brussels 20 years ago, and in dire need of an upgrade...). So here we are trying bracelets, and after molto discussions and trials, we settled on a very smart piece for an undisclosed amount of euros, but certainly worthwhile, specially as a belated birthday present...
And since we visited, Jacques has put together a website...http://www.moniquet.com
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