Mellerio dits Meller
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jewellery |
| Founded | 1613 |
| Founder | Mellerio family |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Europe |
Key people | François Mellerio, Olivier Mellerio |
| Products | Jewellery, trophies, ceremonial swords, tiaras |
Mellerio dits Meller is a historic French jewellery firm established in 1613, acknowledged as the oldest family-run jeweller in Europe. The brand is associated with the Mellerio cut, a unique 57-facet gemstone shape featuring an oval enclosed within an elliptical outline. Since 1815, the company’s headquarters have been located at 9 Rue de la Paix, Paris. It holds membership in both the Comité Colbert and the Henokiens, an exclusive group of family enterprises exceeding two centuries in operation. The current leadership, representing the fourteenth generation, includes François and Olivier Mellerio.
History
The Mellerio family founded the business in Paris under the patronage of Queen Marie de Médicis. The company began its trade activities in Versailles in 1777, with Jean-Baptiste Mellerio attracting prominent clientele such as Queen Marie Antoinette. Notably, the firm sustained its sales through the period of the French Revolution. By 1796, Mellerio was operating from rue Vivienne in Versailles while continuing to serve Empress Joséphine.
François Mellerio moved the enterprise to Paris, initially establishing it at 4 rue du Coq Saint-Honoré before settling at its present site on rue de la Paix in 1815. Following the monarchy’s restoration in 1830, it provided services to Queen Marie-Amélie and King Louis-Philippe. In 1850, Jean-François Mellerio extended the company’s reach to Madrid, catering to Queen Isabella II and Empress Eugénie.
Throughout the nineteenth century, Mellerio deepened its connections with royal households across France, Spain, and Italy. In the fiscal year 2010/2011, the firm’s sales were estimated at €8 million.
Notable works
Mellerio’s collection archives encompass approximately 100,000 pieces.
Trophies
The house crafted the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy awarded annually to the Men's Singles victor at the French Open since 1981. This trophy features a large silver bowl adorned with vine leaf motifs. Champions receive a custom-made pure silver replica that is engraved by Mellerio.
Additionally, Mellerio produces ceremonial swords for members of the Académie française, including François Cheng, each sword uniquely embellished with symbols representing the owner’s accomplishments.
Tiaras and royal jewels
The Shell tiara by Mellerio, created for the 1867 Paris Exhibition, was presented by Queen Isabella II to Infanta Isabella of Spain in 1868. Crafted from diamonds shaped like shells and pearls, this tiara remains part of the Spanish royal family’s collection and is worn by Queen Sofia of Spain.
Mellerio is also attributed with designing the Spanish Floral Tiara—a diamond piece featuring floral motifs—given by General Franco to Queen Sofia on her marriage to Juan Carlos of Spain in 1962.
Within the Dutch royal jewels resides a ruby tiara fashioned by Mellerio for Queen Emma of the Netherlands in 1889. Commissioned by King Willem III as a gift for her thirtieth birthday, it forms part of an extensive ruby parure including a necklace, bracelet, brooch, stomacher, earrings, and fan. Valued at roughly 160,000 guilders at that time, this set continues to hold importance and has been worn by successive generations of Dutch royalty.
Mellerio also designed a rose-pattern diamond tiara purchased by Victor Emmanuel II of Italy for Prince Umberto’s wedding to Margherita of Savoy in 1868.
A peacock brooch dating from 1742 created by Mellerio was once worn by Anita Delgado during her tenure as princess of Kapurthala.
Mellerio family
The Pavilon de Musique in Versailles, initially constructed for Princess Marie Joséphine of Savoy, was once under the ownership of the Mellerio family.
The passing of Antoine Mellerio in 1870 served as the inspiration for Robert Browning’s poem titled "Red Cotton Night-Cap Country".
André Mellerio (1862–1943), known as an art critic and publisher, wrote Mouvement idéaliste en peinture (1896) and was instrumental in advocating for artists such as Odilon Redon and Charles Guilloux.
Charles Mellerio (1879–1978), a painter specializing in watercolours, showcased his work at the Salon des Artistes Français held in the Grand Palais. At the age of 20, he earned the Prix de Rome for drawing.