Georges Briard Cheese Board

Q: We got a Georges Briard cheeseboard as a wedding present in 1960. I’ve heard midcentury modern is popular now. It has this mark burned into the wood on the back. Who was Georges Briard? Is this a collectible item?

A: Georges Briard is a name used on items made by Ukrainian-born American designer and painter Jascha Brojdo (1917-2005). He was born Jakub Brojdo but changed his name to Jascha when he came to the United States in 1937. He painted metal trays for M. Wille, Inc., of New York City beginning in 1947. Early trays were signed “Brodjo.” The name “Georges Briard” was used on trays and other items beginning in 1950 and was registered in 1965, although Brodjo continued to sign his paintings with his own name. Georges Briard designs were popular from the 1950s to the 1970s. Dishes, glassware, metal, wood, and accessories were made for several companies and sold in department stores. Georges Briard cheeseboards like this sell for $20 to $25 online.