The story of our cracking Christmas design

This Christmas at Bettys, we’re captivated by the spirit of the 1920s. A decade of both breathless modernity and timeless beauty, its iconic styles still delight a century later. It was also an exciting time for our youthful business, as we opened elegant new cafés across Yorkshire and started sending out treats by mail order.

When our designers discovered the work of Art Deco pioneer Jean Dunand (1877-1942), it really struck a chord. A Swiss native like our founder Frederick Belmont, he moved to Paris as a young man, initially working in sculpture and with copper and soon earning renown for his exquisite designs. He brought a distinctive quality to everything from decorative screens to the interiors of ocean liners – a resonance with the history of Bettys York, whose own Art Deco style was inspired by the RMS Queen Mary.

Jean was a master craftsman, working with hammered and gilded metals, enamel and luxury materials including gold and mother of pearl. But what especially caught our eye was his work from 1925 onwards reviving the ancient oriental technique known in Europe as coquille d’oeuf. Using tiny fragments of eggshell from hen, duck and partridge, he built up intricate designs on lacquered surfaces to stunning effect.

Bettys designer Alex Meek painstakingly recreated the method by hand for our Christmas theme. Taking inspiration from Jean’s streamlined Art Deco angles, he also paid tribute to the glittering Alpine landscapes of our Swiss roots. Valued tradition, a touch of glamour and patience in the pursuit of excellence – all wrapped up for a Bettys Christmas.