Charles Boutet de Monvel Art Nouveau Peacock Pendant
Located in London, GB
A beautiful documented Art Nouveau Peacock pendant by Charles Boutet de Monvel. The mirrored image
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
Charles Boutet de Monvel Art Nouveau Opal Diamond Gold Bat Maiden Ring
Located in London, GB
Illustrated in our book: Beatriz Chadour-Sampson & Sonya Newell-Smith, Tadema Gallery London Jewellery from the 1860s to 1960s, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart 2021, cat. no. 6 ...
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
CHARLES BOUTET DE MONVEL Symbolist Serpent Ring
Located in London, GB
The Hooded Cobras are clutching a blue green cabochon 'World'. The crystal is a natural amalgam of malachite and lapis lazuli, long considered to have Metaphysical and Healing Prop...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, 18k Gold
$28,963
Size: FR40 - UK12 - US6
John Galliano Ivory Metallic Jacquard Slip Dress with Rhinestone Straps, SS 2003
By John Galliano
Located in London, GB
Bias-cut slip dress in ivory and gold-tone viscose blend jacquard, designed by John Galliano for Spring-Summer 2003. The fabric features a woven floral damask motif with metallic thr...
CHRISTIAN DIOR taupe FOX FUR Winter Coat Sz. F38 / M
By Christian Dior
Located in Zürich, CH
Christian Dior coat in off-white, brown, and taupe fox fur with wide collar. Two side pockets. Opens with two hooks on the front. Lined in black silk. Has been worn and is in excelle...
Vivienne Westwood Velvet Blouson Jacket
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in Berlin, BE
Beautiful velvet Vivienne Westwood Jacket. Cut in a stunning velvet that seems to absorb and refract light like oil on water, the piece balances romance and rebellion with signature ...
SS 1998 Thierry Mugler Blue Checkered Jacket With Velvet Details
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Praha 4, Hlavní město Praha
Spring Summer 1998 Thierry Mugler Blue Checkered Jacket With Dramatic Black Velvet Details. Body-sculpturing design with wide shoulders, slim waist and voluminous hips. Three black ...
1992 AZZEDINE ALAIA black lace RUNWAY dress with bustle
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Azzedine Alaïa, Runway 1992 A standout and cleverly designed piece from Azzedine Alaïa’s 1992 runway collection, this exceptionally rare black lace dress was documented on the runwa...
Thierry Mugler Pink Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Thierry Mugler Dress We offer more exclusive vintage items, view our frontstore This vintage spaghetti strapped pink tailored mini dress consists of satin inserts as well as cross ...
$10,507
Size: FR 34 - UK 6 - IT 38 - US 0
Gucci by Tom Ford purple embroidered lace flared evening pants, fw 1999
By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci
Located in London, GB
Gucci by Tom Ford purple embroidered lace and silk flared evening pants with leather ribbon bows on knees Fall-Winter 1999
Vivienne Westwood red wool and gold 'PAGAN KISS' beret, ss 1988
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
Rare Vivienne Westwood red wool beret with gold leaf 'PAGAN KISS' and signature Orb logo. Made for the 'Choice' tour with Sara Stockbridge in 1988. Pagan I, Spring-Summer 1988
90s Thierry Mugler Open Heart Back Red Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Miami, FL
Manfred Thierry Mugler was a French fashion designer who began his brand in the 1970s and was known for his avant-garde, architectural, hyperfeminine and theatrical approach. This i...
$202,800
H 5.9 in W 7.9 in D 3.9 in
HERMÈS Birkin Sellier 20 Havane Matte Alligator with Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Forest Park, GA
HERMÈS Birkin Sellier 20 Havane Matte Alligator with Gold Hardware The Hermès Birkin Sellier 20 in Havane matte alligator is a rare expression of refined elegance and exclusivity. T...
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 00's Iconic Draped Satin Corset
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in Milano, MILANO
00's iconic draped satin corset by Vivienne Westwood. Zipper and button closure on the back. The composition is 81% polyamide and 19% elastane.
Fendi Baguette Black Swan Feather-like Sequins Beaded Shoulder Bag
By Fendi
Located in AUBERVILLIERS, FR
Fendi Baguette Black Swan Feather-like Sequins Beaded Shoulder Bag These are professional photos of the actual bag. Discover another classic vintage Fendi baguette with rare feathe...
Vintage CHANEL gold pearl Gripoix jewel long designer runway necklace 1992
By Chanel
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed CHANEL Made in France • gold plated, gripoix • vintage designer runway necklace MEASUREMENTS • 72” long CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal...
$8,082
Size: Large (Runs Small)
John Galliano White Viscose Knit and Tulle Dress with Floral Appliqués, FW 2000
By John Galliano
Located in London, GB
This John Galliano dress from the Fall-Winter 2000 collection is constructed from a fine viscose knit base, featuring a fitted, ankle-length silhouette. The upper bodice is composed ...
Y2K Thierry Mugler Couture Aqua Lamé Halter Top and Skirt
By Thierry Mugler Couture
Located in London, GB
This spectacular Y2K lamé top and skirt ensemble were couture crafted by Manfred Thierry Mugler circa 1998 to 2001. Designed by the master of empowering, hyper-feminine tailoring, th...
Thierry Mugler SS 1994 Black Sculptural Jacket
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
The Thierry Mugler’s Spring Summer 1994 jacket is a masterclass in power and precision. It sculpts the body with Mugler’s signature architectural flair - broad, structured shoulders ...
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.
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.