Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
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 Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Black Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, Palladium
2010s American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Palladium
1940s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Rubelite, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Yellow Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Palladium
1990s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Pink Diamond, Brown Diamond, Aquamarine, Morganite, 18k G...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Opal, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterli...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Silver
2010s German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Silver
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Chrysoberyl, Diamond, 18k Gold
1940s Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Peridot, Topaz, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
1920s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Namibian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Mandarin Garnet, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century North American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Beryl, Crystal, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century North American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
1990s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Palladium
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Zircon, Sterling Silver
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yello...
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
