Z is for Zoo (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 30, 2017

And so we come to the final letter in the A to Z Challenge. I have chosen Zoo in order to present some of the gorgeous but less commonly seen creatures that have inspired works of Art Nouveau craftsmanship.

tademagallery.com

Jugendstil Eagle Pendant

tademagallery.com

Cat Purse Pendant. Silver plique-a-jour enamel. Meyer and Meyle, circa 1900.

vandenbosch.co,uk

A silver, pearl, and plique-à-jour enamel pendant modeled as a duck in flight, by Meyle & Mayer, circa 1900.

vsemart.com

Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Frog Brooch.

pinterest.com

Art Nouveau Cat Comb

etsy.com

Art Nouveau Horse Pendant. Vintage Brass.

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Les Trois Crabes – An important Art Nouveau brooch, by Georges Fouquet. Composed of gold, plique-à-jour enamel, diamonds and pearl. Signed GF twice on brooch frame and pin. French, circa 1900.

Creatures of mythology also figure prominently in art nouveau motifs.

langantiques.com

18k Art Nouveau Dragon Pendant.

fashionistatattoos.com

“Gargoyle” pendant/brooch. Gold, enamel, baroque pearl. Rene Lalique, 1989.

joiencis.com

French carved gold and diamond gryphon brooch.

Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure into the world of Art Nouveau. I’m very grateful for your likes, comments, and follows.

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Y is for Yearning (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 29, 2017

Of all the pieces of art nouveau treasure I have seen in the course of this Challenge, these are the ones that I truly yearn to possess!

www,skinnerinc.com

Gold, sapphire, and plique-a-jour enamel pendant. Marcus & Co.

pinterest.com

Enamel brooch set with diamonds, circa 1905.

nelsonrarities.com

Plique-a-jour diamond, gold and platinum pendant.

http://www.skinnerinc.com

Jugendstil brooch. Silver, moonstone, and glass. German maker’s mark, probably Pforzheim.

sothebysaustralia.com.au

Of celestial design, the half moon-shaped black opal surmounted by a star motif accented with circular-cut diamond suspending an oval black opal surmounted by similarly set stars further suspending three lines of diamonds each terminating in an opal, completed by a trace link chain, brooch detachable, the opals together weighing approximately 14.50 carats, mounted in 15ct gold.

 

finescrollsaw.com

fairyblingmother.blogspot.com

Yes, the jellyfish earrings. How could I possibly pass these up?

fleurdulys.tumblr.com

Gold, diamonds, sapphires, and pearls.

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X is for Crosses (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 28, 2017

X is one of the more difficult letters in the A to Z Challenge. Fortunately, the popularity of art nouveau extended into religious imagery as well. This resulted in a dazzling variety of pendants and rosaries.

http://www.rubylane.com

Vibrant Art Nouveau Champlevé Enamel Antique Cross Pendant

etsy.com

Vintage Spanish Art Nouveau Cross

http://www.rubylane.com

This large Art Nouveau cross pendant is made in 22 K gold composed of one square-cut amethyst surrounded by four baguette-cut raspberry-pink amethysts. Each amethyst is encrusted in the center with a platinum-on-gold collet-set antique single-cut diamond. The colorful amethysts are set in a floral motive, enhanced with 16 antique single-cut diamonds set in a collet setting made in platinum on gold. Probably Belgium, circa 1900.

etsy.com

Large Antique French Rosary Crucifix/Cross Art Nouveau / Mother of Pearl Beads / Art Nouveau Connector/ Hand Carved MOP Crucifix.

http://www.rubylane.com

Early 1900s 18k yellow gold crucifix featuring blue and orange glass and plique-a-jour enamel. Signed by P.L. Dasset.

nelsonrarities.com

Art Nouveau Montana Sapphire And Carved Gold Cross.

BeverlyHillsAntiques.com

Antique Art Nouveau 18k Diamonds Cross Pendant

 

U is for Unlucky (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 25, 2017

The number thirteen produces strong reactions in people. Many believe the number is unlucky. Much to my surprise, I’ve discovered why many other people insist on believing thirteenth brings good luck. For excellent examples of both sides, click here.

ebay.com

“Lucky” 13  heart charm. Silver and enamel. Germany circa 1900.

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18k gold decorated with papyrus leaves and platinum set with tiny rose-cut diamonds. France, circa 1900.

ebay.com

Rose wreath charm with “lucky” 13 inside. Sterling silver, from France.

http://www.rubylane.com

Sterling silver crescent moon “lucky” 13 charm. Victorian.

ebay.com

18k gold with diamond, ruby, and aquamarine. Late 19th Century.

 

 

T for Tiara (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 24, 2017

jewelsdujour.com

‘Forget-me-nots’ tiara Designed and made by Paul Gabriel Liénard (born 1849) Paris. About 1905. Horn, gold, diamonds and pearls. Qatar Museums Authority © Albion Art

beautyblingjewelry.tumblr.com

A cyclamen tiara by Faberge. In the late 19th Century it was quite fashionable to have tiaras that could also be worn as necklaces.

coloreddiamond.info

House/Maker Henri Sandoz Period Art Nouveau circa 1900. Origin Paris, France. Setting Yellow and green gold, unsigned.

pinterest.com

A belle epoque diamond and pearl aigrette, circa 1900, by Cartier. A tiara that can be hung with either sixteen pear-shaped diamonds and sixteen similarly shaped natural pearls. Though the diamond version does have an extra pear-shaped diamond that hangs down to rest on the forehead. (Don’t you just love having that kind of flexibility in your bling?)

beautyblingjewelry.tumblr.com

A unusual belle epoque tiara, 1900, by Boucheron. In some ways a very Art Nouveau design, with large diamond leaves intertwining sinuously with diamond berries.

sothebys.com

Gold, enamel, and mother of pearl. Made by A & J Smith, United Kingdom, circa 1900.

costumehistory.tumblr.com

Gold, enamel, pearls and diamonds. Rene Lalique, France, circa 1900.

 

S is for Snakes (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 22, 2017

1stdibs.com

Gold, enamel, emerald, and diamond. French, 1900.

http://www.skinnerinc.com

Art Nouveau 18kt Gold, Opal, and Demantoid Garnet Necklace, designed as writhing serpents with five bezel-set opals, the central opal with demantoid garnet accents.

http://www.rubylane.com

Double snake belt buckle in sterling silver, set with a garnet.

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By Philippe Wolfers. Belgium, 1898.

books.google.com

Snake hand bag. Chased silver, antelope skin, silk, and metallic thread. Rene Lalique, circa 1903.

graysantiques.com

A serpent drinking from a basin. 18k gold, platinum, emerald, and diamond.

rialique.com

A female profile bordered by serpents. Plique-a-jour enamel, gold, opal, and pearl. Rene Lalique, circa 1900.

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Art nouveau gold and enamel ear pendants by Rene Lalique, 1900-1902.

rocaille.it

Medusa paperweight. Rene Lalique.

 

 

 

P is for Pocket Watch (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 19, 2017

jewelry.ha.com

Swiss Gold Diamond and Pearl Pendant Watch circa 1905.

damedebeaute.tumblr.com.

Gold, cabochon emerald, diamond and green enamel lapel watch. Marcus & Co., circa 1900.

1stdibs.com

Museum Quality Enamel and Gem set Lapel Watch by Haas Neveux. 18K Yellow Gold with Fine enamel, gold chasing and accented with numerous Rose cut Diamonds. Stem set Jeweled Nickel lever movement. Porcelain Dial with sunk seconds chapter and Gold hands. Matching case and Movement Numbers and also having the name of Boston Retailer Smith Patterson & co engraved on the movement.

dupuis.ca

Gold and enamel lapel watch, circa 1900.

pinterest.com

Art Nouveau 18kt Gold, Enamel, and Diamond Open Face Pendant Watch, the case with enamel flowers and rose-cut diamonds, the cuvette with guilloche enamel, hammered gold accents, the white enamel dial with Arabic numeral indicators and subsidiary seconds dial, stem-wind and stem-set, 27 mm, and suspended from a conforming watch pin, total lg. 2 1/2 in.

ebay.com

Antique art nouveau Moon Celestial Pocket Watch holder stand. Solid bronze.

 

O is for Owl (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 18, 2017

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Owl pendant in gold, silver, and enamel, clutching a pearl. Faberge, Moscow, Russia, 1916-1917.

 

http://www.rubylane.com

Green and rose enamel. The gemstone is likely amethyst.

masterpiecefair.com

Ladies’ evening bag. Leather with textured detailing back and front. Banded agate eyes with rubies surrounding them. Diamond-set beak and claws.

heaveninawildflower.tumblr.com

Hair comb by Paul and Henri Vever, circa 1900. Honey-colored horn embellished with jewels.

loupiosity.com

Stomacher brooch by Cartier, 1907. Platinum, diamonds, eight sapphires.

etsy.com

Art Nouveau owl bookends.

macklowegallery.com

French art nouveau brooch by Gautrait. Enameled gold, diamond, sapphire and opal.

 

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H is for Hair (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 10, 2017

For those who don’t know me, I have long hair all the way down to my hips. My romance heroines have long hair. That’s appropriate to the time periods I prefer, plus there is a lot more romantic potential in grooming long hair, pinning it up, letting it tumble down, etc.

The jewelers who favored Art Nouveau designs enjoyed working with women’s hair, whether up, down, or something entirely different!

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Art Nouveau pendant “Poésie” by Paul and Henri Vever, Paris, circa 1900

http://www.rubylane.com

Unger Bros., sterling silver brooch, circa 1900.

kart773.ru

Gold, enamel, diamond, emerald, pearl.

tademagallery.com

Gilded silver locket with chalcedony. German, 1900.

http://www.skinnerinc.com

Sterling silver brooch. Unger Bros.

boston.com

Gold, enamel, diamond, and pearl. French, 1900.

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G is for Goddess (Art Nouveau – #AtoZChallenge)

by Lillian Csernica on April 8, 2017

I’ve had a lifelong interest in mythology, and Greek mythology in particular. Another abundant theme in Art Nouveau is the female form, presented in profile, the face as centerpiece, a maiden in Nature, and of course, the main Goddesses.

udemy.com

Antique sterling art nouveau locket — large size with repousse Greek Goddess of the Night Nyx. Depicts owl, moon, stars, torch.

Bling Bling

Nike, Goddess of Victory

Gold and enamel, diamond, ruby, pearl and carved opal.

Zeus and Hera, in gold and sapphire.

etsy.com

Diana, goddess of the hunt. Brass plated in antique gold. Fine bronze filigree encases the black and ivory cameo. The pendant is decorated with Swarovski opal stones and a black diamond Czech crystal drop.

http://www.langantiques.com

The Goddess Ceres. Peachy-pink coral, 14k gold with thistle motif.

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Head of the Gorgon Medusa, late 19th Century, Czechoslovakia. The brooch is made of gold, jasper, and pearl. (I include Medusa here because A) some consider her the Goddess of PMS, and B) this is a singular piece.)

http://www.lalique.com

This piece of the “Sacred Fire Odyssey” collection represents Vesta, the Goddess of Fire. For me, this is one of Rene Lalique’s supreme creations. From Lalique:

“The majestic, Fine Jewellery Vesta necklace is a perfect demonstration of the House’s craftsmanship and its emblematic jeweller features: a piece that adapts to four different wearing styles, including necklace, brooch or pendant, and the famous mixed-materials technique introduced by René Lalique, in which the precious and non-precious combinations serve the beauty of the motif – a fusion of gold, sapphire, diamond, fire opal, moonstone, engraved mother-of-pearl, cloisonné enamel and crystal.”

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