Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Art Nouveau — generally considered to have begun in the late 1800s and ended with the start of World War I — was a movement in the decorative arts that drew inspiration from natural forms, such as trees, flowers and, of course, the human figure. The three main themes present in Art Nouveau jewelry and watches were flora, fauna and women.
Art Nouveau, which reached its pinnacle in the year 1900, spawned from artists who rejected the historicism of their predecessors to create an entirely new visual vocabulary. As compared to Art Deco jewelry’s geometric patterns and sharp lines, the extravagant style of antique Art Nouveau jewelry is characterized by curvilinear forms and whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the Industrial Revolution, and took its inspiration from the theories of the Symbolists, the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the ideas of John Ruskin and his follower William Morris and, most importantly Japanese crafts. (The country was a fertile ground for inspiration after it was opened to the West in 1854.) The Art Nouveau style touched all manners of the arts, including the most exultant jewelry.
Nature was a favorite muse for artists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the hands of 20th-century artists, it was depicted in new ways. For example, a withering flower was considered just as beautiful as one in full bloom. Winged creatures, such as insects and birds, were also a popular subject. Dragonflies and butterflies were particular favorites because they morphed so dramatically in different life stages.
This was also a reference to women, whose role in society was evolving. It was not uncommon to see a piece of jewelry that would at once reference a woman as a winged creature (think René Lalique’s famous Dragonfly brooch, circa 1897–98, at the Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon). However, just as women’s roles were ambiguous, so was their image, as the femmes nouvelle were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized.
In addition to Lalique, vital figures in Art Nouveau jewelry included Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, Vladimir Soloviev, who designed jewelry for Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Fuset Grau of Spain, Karl Rothmuller of Germany and Philippe Wolfers of Belgium.
Art Nouveau jewelers used every “canvas” imaginable, looking beyond brooches and necklaces to belt buckles, fans, tiaras, dog collars (a type of choker necklace), pocket watches, corsages and hair combs. Multicolored gems and enamel could complete this vision better than diamonds. Jewelers also favored pearls, particularly baroque pearls, for their large size and irregular shape. However, opal was the most popular stone — its iridescence harmonized perfectly with the enamel, and it could be carved into any shape. Art Nouveau jewelry was primarily set in yellow gold.
Find a range of antique Art Nouveau jewelry today on 1stDibs.
2010s Swiss Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Morganite, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold
1930s Unknown Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Opal, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
Early 2000s Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1920s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Silver
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Silver
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Opal, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
Late 20th Century French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crysta...
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Rhodolite, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, Tanzanite, Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Rhodiu...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, Yellow Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
