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.
Georg Jensen Denmark Cactus Sterling Silver Small Serving Spoon 8" #16893
By Georg Jensen
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Sterling silver small serving spoon by Georg Jensen Denmark in the Cactus pattern. No monogram. Created by long-time Jensen designer Gunorph Albertus, the Cactus pattern was introd...
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Silver Dish by Roelof Citroen
Located in Lisboa, PT
Art Deco Silver Dish by Roelof Citroen, Netherlands, 1969–1983 Elegant oval silver dish crafted by Dutch designer Roelof Citroen, active from 1969 to 1983. Executed in 830‰ silver, ...
Silver
$591Sale Price / set|20% Off
Rare Set of 6 Liberty London Fully Hallmarked Sterling Silver 1929 Desert Knives
Located in GB
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this stunning set of six Liberty London Sterling silver dessert cutlery knives ...
Sterling Silver
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase Beautiful Art Deco piece that was made in France in the 1930s An overlaid and etched glass vase, cameo signature G...
Art Deco, Sterling Silver, Five Piece Tea and Coffee Service by Tiffany & Co.
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
This delightful sterling silver tea and coffee service was made by American firm Tiffany & Company. The five piece set comprises a teapot, coffeepot, sugar pot, creamer and waste...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$980Sale Price|20% Off
Jean Louis Scherrer Art Deco Skyscraper Perfume Bottle in .925 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Perfume bottle designed by Jean-Louis Scherrer. Very rare and beautiful perfume bottle, created in Paris France by Jean Louis Scherrer, back in the late 20th century. This exotic perfume bottle was made as a promotion for the launching of his famous Scherrer 2 perfume in 1986. Carefully crafted in the art deco style with skyscraper patterns, in solid sterling silver of .925/.999 with high polished finish. Fitted with a lid and a pistil to applicate the perfume and scents. Weight: 130.95 Grams, (83.94 Dwt). Measurements: 86 mm by 24 mm by 18 mm (3.40 x 0.94 x 0.71 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, the silver assay mark, the maker's mark of SF inside a lozange cartouche, the edition number and signed, "JEAN LOUIS SCHERRER PARIS 925 Sterling #0202" Edition: Number 0202 from 1000 pieces produced. Jean-Louis Scherrer born in Paris in February. He was a Parisian fashion designer and couturier. Although he had name recognition and was known for his work, he is mainly noted for being the first couture designer to be sacked from their own-name label in 1992. Scherrer trained as a dancer at the Conservatoire de Paris until he injured his back, which put him out of action for three months. He then decided to focus on fashion design, and in 1956, joined Christian Dior as an assistant designer alongside Yves Saint Laurent. Following Dior's death in 1957, Scherrer worked under Saint Laurent, and then for Louis Féraud, before launching his own fashion house in 1962 on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré with the backing of Jacques Chabrol, a French millionaire. In the mid-1960s Scherrer had an agreement with the American department store Bergdorf Goodman to grant them exclusive rights to reproduce and resell his designs in the United States. His clients included Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Raquel Welch, who wore Scherrer animal-print dresses in the 1977 film L'Animal. By the 1980s, his work was known for its opulence and luxury, with many garments hand-beaded, embroidered and lavishly trimmed. His extremely expensive designs were popular with the wealthy wives of Middle East oil tycoons, but after the Gulf War...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$322Sale Price|20% Off
STUNNING 1931 STERLING SILVER MOTHER OF PEARL BAPTISMAL SHELL BAPTISM Dish
Located in GB
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this sublime 1931 Sterling silver handled with mother of pearl Baptismal dish for Christian Baptisms The pie...
Silver
$537Sale Price|20% Off
STUNNING 1911 STERLING SILVER MOTHER OF PEARL BAPTISMAL SHELL BAPTISM Dish
Located in GB
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this sublime 1911 Sterling silver handled with mother of pearl Baptismal shell ...
Silver
German Art Deco Silver Basket
Located in Lisboa, PT
German Art Deco Silver Basket, circa 1920s–1930s A refined German silver basket from the Art Deco period, dating to the 1920s–1930s, measuring 31 x 20 cm and weighing 821 grams. Cra...
Silver
Pair of Art-Deco Heavy French Silver on Brass & Crystal Modernistic Candlesticks
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
A striking pair of modernist Art Deco candlesticks, featuring sleek chromed columns rising from faceted crystal bases, creating a refined interplay of light and reflection. The g...
Silver, Brass
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Emile Galle Art Deco Vase Beautiful Art Deco piece that was made in France in the 1930s An overlaid and etched glass vase, cameo signature G...
A Large Serving Spoon by Carl M. Cohr Horsens Solvvarefabrik Sterling Silver
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
A beautiful solid sterling silver large serving bowl by Carl M.Cohr for Horsens Solvvarefabric, ca' 1940's. Weighing 100 grams and 9.75" long. Monogrammed on the back.
Sterling Silver
$240Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Silver Spoon Galt Vintage Estate Item Silverware Kitchenware Pre-Owned
Located in Tysons, VA
Around 0.80 oz.
Silver
$268Sale Price|20% Off
Lovely Antique Cut Glass Crystal Decanter Jug Brandy Sterling Hanging Label 1974
Located in GB
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale sublime cut glass crystal decanter with sterling silver Brandy hanging label A good looking and decorative pi...
Sterling Silver