Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.
The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.
However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)
While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.
Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.
A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.
Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1920s Austrian Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1930s Danish Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Jade, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Amazonite, Jade, Onyx, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s British Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold Plate
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, Pearl, Enamel
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Czech Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1970s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver Plate
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Onyx, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver, Bronze
1920s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century North American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1950s German Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1950s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Crystal, Zircon
2010s German Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Crystal, Rock Crystal, Silver, Vermeil
Early 2000s Swiss Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Enamel
2010s Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1920s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Jade
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold Plate
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Sapphire, Gold
1850s European Antique Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century North American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
14k Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1930s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
1910s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Indian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1940s European Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold Plate
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Silver
1920s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver, Steel
20th Century Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Gold Plate
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sapphire, Sterling Silver
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold