Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
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.
20th Century American Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Italian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century American Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Crystal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
1910s Vintage Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Zircon, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...
Early 2000s Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Ruby, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
19th Century Spanish Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Enamel, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Garnet
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Russian Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s German Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1890s French Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Silver, Ye...
1990s Italian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Peridot, Diamond, White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Greek Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Quartz, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Jade, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1910s Russian Vintage Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
20th Century French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
18k Gold