Art Nouveau Jewelry
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.
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Amethyst, Coral, Turquoise, Gold Plate, Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Jewelry
White Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k...
2010s Zambian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 1900s Italian Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Jewelry
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Spanish Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Jewelry
Beryl, Aquamarine, Sterling Silver, Silver, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Silver
1970s German Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Jewelry
Zircon, Tourmaline, Quartz, Sterling Silver, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Chrome Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Quartz, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s German Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s European Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
1910s Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
1990s Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s German Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Gold Plate
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Silver, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Art Nouveau Jewelry
Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Tanzanite, Opal, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond,...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Chrysophrase, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Jewelry
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
1910s European Vintage Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Jewelry
Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Jewelry
Agate, Onyx, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century American Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s British Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Jewelry
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Enamel
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Jewelry
Ruby, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Emerald, White ...
2010s Greek Art Nouveau Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold
