Jean Goardère

JEAN GOARDÈRE (France, active since 1938).
Letter holder, c. 1950.
Pewter.
In very good overall condition, with slight signs of wear and a patina consistent with its age.
Measurements:
Desk letter holder or mail sorter designed by Jean Goardère, made of pewter. With a sculptural yet functional design, it features a stylized envelope shape characteristic of mid-20th-century French decorative design.
Jean Goardère was a French artisan and copper smith who specialized in handworking copper and pewter. He began his career in 1938 and produced a range of utilitarian and decorative objects characterized by the hand-molding, embossing, and hammering of metals.
In 1955, he received the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) distinction for his work with copper and metal, one of the most prestigious awards in French craftsmanship. Later, in 1969, he was awarded the Coupe du Bon Goût Français, an honor recognizing the quality and excellence of French craftsmanship.His work includes candelabras, vases, lamps, trays, containers, and desk accessories, generally crafted from high-purity pewter and often marked with the stamp “95% Étain – Fait Main – Jean Goardère – France.”