Art Nouveau Pendant 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.
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold
19th Century American Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1910s English Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Early 1900s American Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Pe...
Early 20th Century North American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Moonstone, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold,...
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1890s European Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s German Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Unknown Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Sapphire, Ruby, Peridot, Opal, Garnet, Emerald...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1870s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s Greek Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Quartz, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1910s Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Peridot, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Rose Gold
1890s Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Central American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Tanzanite, Rhodium, Silver
1910s American Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1910s Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s German Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1910s Vintage Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 1900s American Antique Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Jade, White Gold