L C Tiffany Opal Miniature Handled Favrile Glass Vase -fully signed c1920
By Louis Comfort Tiffany
Located in Worcester Park, GB
He is perhaps most famous for his lamps, but alas the few remaining ones reside only in museums and the houses of the rich and famous. Tiffany called his art nouveau glass 'Favrile' ...
Art Glass
Christian Dior 1965 White Milky Opal Olive Green Flower Cabochon Gold Brooch
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior 1965 Vintage White Milky Opal Olive Green Flower Cabochon Marquise Oval Tear Water Drop Elegant Modernist Brooch, Gold Tone Very good condition, not any stones lost, ...
Gold Plate
$2,228Sale Price|20% Off
0.60 Carat White Diamond 1.30 Carat Opal Pearl Enamel Yellow Gold Drop Earrings
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 1...
$1,021Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique Set of Nine Opal Wine Glasses Hand-crafted in France, Portieux Vallerys
By Portieux Vallerysthal
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique set of 9 Vallerysthal opal wine glasses, also known as Portieux Vallerysthal opaline, glasses with a pontil mark on the bottom where the piece was broken off from the rod. Th...
Opaline Glass
Enamel Painted Biddy Chicken Bird Opal Glass Vase, Antique German Eastern, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Petite Opal Black Glass Vase with Enamel Chicken Motif A charming small opal black glass vase featuring a delicate enamel painting of a biddy chicken. The hand-applied enamel des...
Enamel
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D40 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D40 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D40 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D30 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D25 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Stoby Oxide D30 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D40 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D40 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D25 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D25 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D30 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
Konsthantverk Pendant Stoby Oxide D30 Opal Glass Ceiling Lamp
By Konsthantverk Tyringe 1
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model Stoby designed by Konsthantverk and manufactured by themselves. A true Art Nouveau classic in white matte opal glass and oxidized brass.
Brass
$1,671Sale Price|20% Off
Art Deco Style Emerald Amethyst Citrine Ruby Yellow Gold Stud Flies Earrings
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire...
Walking stick with hare's head knob, signed František Anýž, Prague 1905.
By Franta (Frantisek) Anýž
Located in Milan, IT
Walking stick: a jeweled cane, an exceptional example of Art Nouveau work by Františk (Franta) Anyž. The L-shaped handle is made of black bovine horn with 900/1000 silver accents, em...
Opal, Silver, Brass, Iron
Antique Hand Made 18K Gold and Silver Dragonfly Brooch, Circa 1880-1910
Located in Old Tappan, NJ
Antique, circa 1880-1910, 18K yellow gold and silver handmade dragonfly brooch/pendant slide with sapphire, opal, ruby and diamond. The plique-a-jour wings are pale blue/green ename...
Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold
Jugendstil walking stick, silver depicting a cicada, by Janesich. Austria 1905.
By Janesich
Located in Milan, IT
Art Nouveau walking stick: curved handle, designed and crafted by Leopoldo Janesich, in silver with gilded reliefs.
Opal, Metal, Silver
$11,488
X Phoenix
Located in Stockholm, SE
The Phoenix: The Immortal Bird of Myth The Phoenix is a legendary bird renowned for its cyclical rebirth and eternal life. According to ancient myths, this magnificent creature live...
Diamond, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
$455Sale Price / item|50% Off
Silvorra 9.15ct Multi Gemstone Embedded Maple Leaf Oxidised Brooch Pendant
Located in New York, NY
This enchanting 9.15 carats opals, rubies, blue sapphires, and emeralds multigemstone and diamond leaf brooch pendant is crafted in 925 sterling silver, designed with an elegant open...
Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Ste...
Snow Flake Style Earrings with Multi Gemstone & Pave Diamonds in Gold & Silver
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
18kt:2.38gms, Diamond:4.20cts, Silver:22.97gms, BLUE Sapphire:2.00cts, OPAL DOUBLET: 10.7 Size: 64X35MM"
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Jade Fine and Precious Stones Metal 18 Karat Gold Birds Pendant
Located in Poitiers, FR
This pendant consists of a large oval jade plate, held in place by a gold-plated and 18-karat gold bail. On the front, the plate is decorated with a gold-plated metal floral and plan...
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Garnet, Jade, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow G...
Peacock bowl signed by Verly’s
By Verlys Glass
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
In the Art Nouveau style, opal glass was often used for lampshades, vases, and other decorative objects.
Opaline Glass
Verly glass bowl with dancers
By Verlys Glass
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
In the Art Nouveau style, opal glass was often used for lampshades, vases, and other decorative objects.
Opaline Glass
Art Nouveau Grasshopper Brooch
Located in London, GB
Incredibly detailed and naturalistic, this grasshopper brooch is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau design and craftsmanship. The body of the insect features a bright and vivid blue opal, ...
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
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.
Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.
Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)
Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!
There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.
So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.
There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).
Aside from his iconic commercial prints, the Czech artist endeavored to make works that spoke to the soul.
From vibrant to subtle, elegant to cheeky, enamel jewelry encompasses a wide range of colors and styles, and there are almost as many techniques for creating these distinctive pieces.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century was all about celebrating beauty of women and nature.