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.
Antique Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Owl Salt & Pepper Shakers Model No. 36
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of antique salt and pepper shakers. By Georg Jensen. In sterling silver. Model. no. 36. Designed by Georg Jensen. Each...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Art Deco Pepper Shaker or Caster
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine sterling silver pepper shaker or caster. By Georg Jensen. Model no. 236 Simply great Art Deco design! Date: 1925-1932 Overall Condition: It is in overall good, as-picture...
Sterling Silver
$390Sale Price / set|25% Off
French Silver-Plated Salt and Pepper Shakers by Christofle
By Christofle
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Mid-Century Set of 2 Circa 1970s Made in France Elevate your tabletop with this elegant pair of French silver-plated salt and pepper shakers by Christofle, a distinguished...
Silver Plate
Pair of Danish Modern Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Salt & Pepper Shakers # 627
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare pair of Georg Jensen sterling silver salt and pepper shakers. Model No. 627. Designed by Ove Brobeck. A rare and fine pai...
Sterling Silver
1874 Set of four Paste Knives solid 830 Gilt Silver / 177gr
Located in SE
Four solid Gilt Silver Paste Knives with hand engraved floral decorations on the blades and cast acanthus leaves on the handles. Swedish hallmarks confirming solid Silver 830 - 925...
Sterling Silver, Gold-filled
Vintage Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Ornamental 21 Sugar Spoon
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage ornamental sugar spoon. By Georg Jensen. In sterling silver. Model no. 21. Designed by Georg Jensen. With the post-1945 factory mark. Simply a great spoon from ...
Sterling Silver
Antique Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Ornamental 41 Sugar Spoon
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Georg Jensen sugar spoon. In sterling silver. Model no. Ornamental 41 Designed by Georg Jensen. Simply a great sugar spoon!...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Tiffany & Co. 925 Sterling 2 Silver Salt & Pepper Shaker Set 174 Gm
Located in New York, NY
Two-Piece Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Salt & Pepper Set 174 Gm Very Exclusive A Tiffany & Co maker's sterling silver Salt & Pepper set It is Signed and Engraved T...
Sterling Silver, Silver
$493
W 1.12 in L 5.75 in
Set of 6 Georg Jensen Denmark Acanthus Sterling Silver Teaspoons 5 3/4" # 19723
By Georg Jensen
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Set of 6 sterling silver teaspoons by Georg Jensen Denmark in the Acanthus pattern. The Acanthus pattern was designed by Johan Rohde and introduced in 1917. A romantic swirl design ...
Sterling Silver
$950 / set
H 0.48 in W 0.87 in L 5.83 in
Set of 6 Antique Richard Garten 800 Silver & Dresden Porcelain Dessert Spoons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 6 antique silver & porcelain dessert (or possibly demitasse) spoons. By Richard Garten. In gilt 800 silver. With raised enamel jeweling to the Dresden porcelain han...
Silver
Pair of Heavy Sterling Silver Salt & Pepper Shakers
Located in New York, NY
These pair of heavy sterling Silver salt & Pepper shakers features a screw-top. Makers' mark is etched in the center of the base. The height measures 2 1/8 inches, circumferen...
$240Sale Price|20% Off
L 3.75 in
Marina J 6 Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver Tea Spoon Set with Lapis Lazuli Stones
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of 6 rhodium-plated sterling silver teaspoons with lapis lazuli stones are elegant, with spiral handles. These vintage spoons were re-imagined ...
Lapis Lazuli, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Salt or Pepper Shaker - Silver
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Elegant handcrafted sterling silver salt or pepper shaker, entirely made in Italy and crafted in solid 925 silver, with a weight of 136.3 grams. Designed in the form of a sculptural ...
Silver
Christofle French Sterling Silver 6 Piece Dinnerware Set
By Christofle
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage Christofle silverplate flatware set, stamped with the classic OC Christofle hallmark and FRANCE, dates to the late 1930s through the 1940s. The marks correspond to Chris...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Small Salt and Pepper Shakers with Pouches #25973
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Small Salt and Pepper Shakers with Pouches These authentic Tiffany & Co shakers are small, most likely a set meant for individual use. They feat...
Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Stieff Sterling Silver Repousse Salt Shaker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique silver salt shaker. In sterling silver. By Stieff. With repousse flower decoration throughout and 3 small feet. Simply a...
Sterling Silver
$320Sale Price / set|20% Off
L 4.5 in
Marina J. One of A Kind Antique Sterling Silver and Baroque Pearl Spoons
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ultimate One of A Kind Antique Spoon set from Marina J. This set of six spoons features Vintage Sterling Silver and are all stamped on the bottom. Me...
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
Cartier Sterling Silver Miniature Salt & Pepper Shakers — Set of 4 with Original
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A charming set of four Cartier miniature salt and pepper shakers in sterling silver (.925), complete with the original Cartier box. Each shaker bears the Cartier logo on its lid — tw...
Sterling Silver
$3,850 / set
H 0.25 in Dm 3.13 in
Rare Set of 9 Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Vine Pattern Butter Pats
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extremely rare set of sterling silver butter pats. In the Vine pattern decorated with raised poppies and other flowers around the rim's edge. By Tiffany & Co. Monogrammed to t...
Sterling Silver
Seven 'Continental Pattern' Georg Jensen Fish Knives in .830 Silver
By Georg Jensen
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A fine set of seven, .830 purity silver fish knives by Georg Jensen in the Continental pattern. The knives are in the iconic 'Continental' pattern w...
Silver
Set of Seven Sterling Silver Georg Jensen 'Bernadotte' Forks
By Georg Jensen
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A beautiful set of seven sterling silver forks by Sigvard Bernadotte (1907-2002) for Georg Jensen. First designed in 1939 by the industrial designer and former Prince of Sweden, Sigv...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Pair of Georg Jensen Bernadotte Sterling Silver Salt Spoons
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of fine antique sterling silver salt spoons. By Georg Jensen. In the Bernadotte pattern. Designed by Sigvard Bernadotte....
Sterling Silver
TIFFANY & CO Art Deco Sterling Martini Set, 1922
Located in New York, NY
This 12 piece Martini Cup Set by Tiffany & Co., New York is fully hallmarked with the Tiffany maker’s mark and pattern number 20037Y and the date mark “m” for pieces made between 1907 and 1947. The “Y” next to the pattern number indicates the unique acid etched style of decoration on the cup itself. During the second quarter of the 20th century, Tiffany often decorated their silver with acid etched geometric patterned designs. The pattern etched on the cup itself and on the base of these cups is a wheat and wheatberry motif set within a quatrefoil bossed trellis. Usually Tiffany’s martini...
Sterling Silver
Set of Six French Art Deco Silver Caviar Knives, Circa 1920
Located in New York, NY
A set of six beautifully crafted French 950/1000 1st standard silver handled caviar knives with tortoise shells blades. These French Art Deco knives ar...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Silver Cocktail Shaker 3pts
Located in Bethesda, MD
Make cocktail hour special with this super stylish Tiffany & Co. sterling silver cocktail shaker. This Art Deco Shaker holds three pints of liquid and...
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Silver Flatware Service
By Sheffield Silver Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
A lovely 186-piece sterling silver flatware service featuring 80 pieces appointed with magnificent mother-of-pearl handles. This service for 12 is hou...
Sterling Silver
Large Georg Jensen Pyramid Flatware Set C 1950
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Large sterling silver flatware set in Pyramid pattern. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen, ca. 1950 This service comprises 12 dinner forks (7 ½ in.), 12 lunch forks (7 1/8 in.), 12 dessert forks (6 1/3 in.), 12 salad forks (6 ¼ in.), 12 round soupspoons (6 ¼ in.), 5 oval soupspoons (7 1/3 in.), 12 teaspoons (5 ¾ in.), 12 iced teaspoons (7 in.), 7 demitasse spoons (4 1/8 in.), 6 demitasse spoons (3 ¾ in.), 12 fish knives (7 ¾ in.), 12 long-handled dinner knives (9 in.), 12 long-handled lunch knives (8 1/8 in.), 11 lunch knives (7 7/8 in.), and 11 butter knives (5 ¾ in.) Serving pieces: 1 soup ladle (11 ¾ in.), 1 soup ladle (9 7/8 in.), 1 gravy ladle (7 1/3 in.), 1 pie server (9 1/8 in.), 1 cake cutter...
Sterling Silver