(New York, January 14, 2020)—Today, The Met Store announced the launch of its newest collection celebrating the distinctive work of Erté, the Russian-born French artist Romain de Tirtoff (1892–1990), who is best known as the Father of Art Deco. Available at The Met Store and online on January 21, 2020, the line will comprise jewelry, scarves, home goods, stationery, handbags, and accessories inspired by the artist's Art Deco prints, opera sets, and fashion designs. This new collection will expand The Met Store’s current offerings, which draw upon diverse periods and styles, including Classicism, the medieval era, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Art Nouveau, and others.
Among the pieces included in the jewelry assortment of The Met Store's collection are a statement necklace and drop earrings inspired by an Erté original openwork fan design for Zizi Jeanmaire, a French ballet dancer who was also the artist’s great friend and wore costumes Erté made for her. Also of note in the jewelry suite is an 18k gold-plated pin inspired by the artist’s design for the opening curtain of the 1927 New York show Manhattan Mary.
Other key highlights in the collection are a fully beaded clutch and 100% silk scarf, both inspired by the artist’s Egyptian Art Deco work, “The Nile.” The clutch was sustainably handmade in India by the Australian brand From St. Xavier, exclusively for The Met Store.
Erté, whose name was derived from the French pronunciation of his birth name initials, R.T., enjoyed a multifaceted career as a costume and set designer, but is especially renowned for the magazine covers he created from 1915 to 1936.
The Erté collection—made in partnership with Sevenarts Ltd.—is the first assortment The Met Store will be launching in 2020, when the Museum will celebrate its 150th anniversary. On April 13, 2020—The Met's birthday—The Met Store will offer a new line of products based on the winning submissions from The Met 150 Design Contest, a contest launched in April 2019 that invited the public to submit original designs inspired by images of works in the Museum’s Open Access collection. Additionally, The Met Store will launch a designer capsule collection featuring exclusive products inspired by The Met for the momentous occasion.
Visit The Met Store at store.metmuseum.org, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more.
All images may be downloaded here.
About The Met Store
The Met Store offers a selection of gifts inspired by current exhibitions and The Met’s unparalleled collection of more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. The store has a presence in all three of the Museum’s iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters—and online at store.metmuseum.org.
All purchases support The Met collection and the study, conservation, and presentation of 5,000 years of art.
About The Met's 150th Anniversary
In 2020, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding with a dynamic range of exhibitions, programs, and public events. Highlights of the year will include the exhibition Making The Met, 1870–2020, on view March 30–August 2; the opening of the newly renovated and reimagined galleries devoted to British decorative arts and design in March; the display of new gifts throughout the Museum; a three-day-long celebration in June; and a story-collecting initiative. More information is available at metmuseum.org/150 and in a dedicated press release.
About Sevenarts Ltd.
Sevenarts Ltd. are the owners of the Intellectual Property Rights, Copyright, and Trademark for Erté.
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January 14, 2020
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