Humor in Contemporary Jewelry. A Lecture by Michèle Heuzé

Far from being merely a playful embellishment, humour in contemporary avant-garde jewellery serves as a means of subversion and, at times, provocation.

This lecture explores the mechanisms and implications of this development. How does humour—through themes, titles, materials, or modes of wearing—become a tool for challenging traditional expectations?
Does avant-garde jewellery reflect a broader societal shift, or is this humorous and subversive approach intrinsic to its very nature as a provocative art form?

Lecture in French
When? Thursday, October 15th 2026, from 18:30 to 20:00
Where? Conference room at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs of Paris.
Free admission, registration required (registration link to be announced).


Michèle Heuzé is a jewellery historian and a qualified auctioneer. She has worked for Christie’s and for leading jewellery houses, conducting research and delivering professional training. She teaches the history and sociology of jewellery, with a particular focus on the creative process, at the University of Angers, the Saumur Institute of Jewellery, and the Haute École.
Specialising in a cross-disciplinary approach to jewellery studies, she has served as curator or scientific advisor for exhibitions including Un fil rouge dans le bijou d’avant-garde français (Espace Solidor) and Medusa: Jewellery and Taboos at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. She is the author of the documentary Le Monde de Vendôme, several books, including Dior Joaillerie, and numerous scholarly and specialist articles. She also serves as a member of the committee overseeing the restoration of the Louvre Crown Jewels.