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.
Late 17th Century Antique Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Silver
1940s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century Swiss Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
White Diamond, Platinum
1920s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Coral, Diamond, Jade, Ruby
1930s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Enamel, Stainless Steel
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Turquoise
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century Asian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Kunzite
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Enamel
1920s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Pearl, Spinel, Platinum
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Rock Crystal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Quartz
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Diamond, Platinum
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
14k Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, 18k Gold
1910s Canadian Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
10k Gold
2010s Indian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Ruby, 22k Gold, 24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Quartz
1950s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Citrine, Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Quartz
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Silver, Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate
1980s European Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, White Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Enamel
1960s German Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gilt Metal, Stainless Steel
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 19th Century French Antique Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold Plate, Silver
1960s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Stainless Steel
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s German Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Chalcedony, Quartz
1930s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Onyx, Platinum
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal
1930s French Vintage 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
Early 20th Century Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1930s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver
1930s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century Italian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Silver
1950s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
1920s Japanese Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Ruby, Gold