Art Nouveau 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.
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Zircon, Sterling Silver
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Rings
Opal, Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Platinum, Gold, 22k Gold
2010s Japanese Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Rings
Topaz, Zircon, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1930s German Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
1990s Art Nouveau Rings
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Go...
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, White Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Art Nouveau Rings
Tanzanite, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Rock Crystal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
1910s German Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
1890s American Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s English Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1930s European Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Rings
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Rings
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k G...
2010s American Art Nouveau Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century French Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Art Nouveau Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold
1910s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Moonstone, Gold, 22k Gold
1910s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s German Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Art Nouveau Rings
22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1960s Turkish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
14k Gold, 22k Gold
1920s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Rings
22k Gold
2010s European Art Nouveau Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Art Nouveau Rings
Moonstone, Silver
