Nouveau Whiplash
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
Garnet, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Art Nouveau Chain Bracelets
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s American Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Moonstone, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, Platinum, Yel...
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches
Jade, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Cufflinks
14k Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Edwardian More Jewelry
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s American Belle Époque Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum
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Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Vanity Items
Diamond, Jade, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Antique 1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold,...
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Danish Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Solitaire Rings
Diamond
Early 20th Century Unknown Jugendstil Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, White Gold
Antique 1890s European Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Vanity Items
Silver
Recent Sales
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Belgian Art Nouveau Cufflinks
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold
Vintage 1910s Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Peridot, 15k Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Rope Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Bangles
Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Brooches
Garnet, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Emerald, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Three-Stone Rings
Carnelian, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Art Nouveau Brooches
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, En...
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Moonstone, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Citrine, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Charm Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Charm Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Bangles
Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Bangles
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Band Rings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Band Rings
Jade, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Aquamarine, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Charm Bracelets
Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Chain Necklaces
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau More Jewelry
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Signet Rings
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Link Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Bangles
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Nouveau Whiplash For Sale on 1stDibs
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A Close Look at 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.
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