Jean Tijou

Jean Tijou was a player in England craftsman of Baroque.

He came probably a French Huguenot family, and came in the wake of William of Orange and Mary II in 1688 to England. His training as a blacksmith, he was probably in Versailles, because shortly after his arrival in England he began the production of the magnificent grid, which limit the Privy Garden of the Royal Palace Hampton Court to the River Thames towards. The ornate banister of the great staircase at Hampton Court is another of his works. His other works include the farm gate and stair railings of Kensington Palace as well as the north and south choir screen and other wrought iron work at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He also turned staircase railings and other metalwork for the estates Chatsworth and Burghley House forth.

He published in 1693 the book A new Book of Drawings, in which he describes various designs for his work. His artistic work established an own, called Flamboyant style of blacksmithing.

His daughter married the painter Louis Laguerre, who was also engaged in the development of Hampton Court Palace. For his work at Hampton Court he never received his full salary. After 1712 he is no longer mentioned, his life is unknown.

The fence of Hampton Court Palace belonged to the first exhibition of the new Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1852.