Mellerio | A pair of earclips, mid 20th century Each of pyramidal form, within a spherical border, clip fittings, maker's marks M.M., French assay marks, length 2.2cm Footnote: Originally from Italy, the Mellerio family moved to settle in France in 1515. Nearly 100 years later, in 1613, Maison Mellerio was founded when Marie de Medici, Regent of France, granted the Mellerio family her Royal Protection. In 1801 François Mellerio set up the foundations of Maison Mellerio and by 1815 he, and his brother Jean-Jacques, had opened premises on the Rue de la Paix. Part of their success can be attribute to a notable client, Comtesse de Ségur. As the lady in waiting to the Empress Josephine, Comtesse de Ségur introduced Mellerio to the Empress herself, who allegedly purchased several pieces. During the second half of the nineteenth century, Mellerio began to build up their extensive royal clientele. This was in part a result of their successful exhibitions at world fairs between 1862 and 1878, where they showed in London, Paris, Rome and Vienna. Queen Isabel II of Spain purchased a diamond encrusted tiara in 1867. Which was amongst the earliest examples of the use of platinum in fine jewellery. Moving into the twentieth century, Mellerio kept up with the changing fashions and began creating bolder, geometric pieces which were influenced by the Art Deco movement. In the 1950s, Maison Mellerio collaborated with Couture Houses such as Dior, Patou and Balenciaga. Maison Mellerio ownership remains in the same family and they still have their premises in the Rue de la Paix. Recently, François and Olivier Mellerio, the 14th generation of the family to be heading up the Maison, celebrated the Masion Mellerio’s 400th anniversary in 2013.