Stylish Art Nouveau paste brooch

Stylish Art Nouveau paste brooch.

Antique jewelry object group: brooches

Country of origin: unknown

Style: Art Nouveau
(more info on styles)

Style specifics: The floral ornaments and botanical designs are very typical for the Art Nouveau style. Also the use of curvilinear lines is typical for this period.

Period: ca. 1900
(events and facts in 1900)

Material: Silver on top and backed with yellow gold (see explanation on silver on gold).
(more info on precious metals)

Technique: Gold-backed silver or the silver on gold technique. This technique finds its origin centuries ago, when jewelers believed that only a silver mounting could render the true beauty of a diamond. Backing the silver jewel with a (thin) layer of gold was a practical precaution taken to avoid the silver jewelry leaving black stains on clothing or skin. Over the years, with the recognition (and thus use) of platinum as precious metal and the development of white gold the practical necessity to use bi-colored material became obsolete. The argument to use bi-colored metals became more an estetic then a practical one.

Extra information: As is still the case today, also in the Art Nouveau era not all jewelry that was sparkling was covered with diamonds. For as many reasons as today people used and bought strass (also called paste) stones as a economical replacement.

Precious stones: 56 glimmering and shining strass (also called paste)
(more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
(more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
(more info on hallmarks)

Condition: excellent condition
(more info on our condition scale)

Dimensions: width approximately 4.28 cm (1.69 inch)

Weight: 12.10 gram (7.78 dwt)

Reference Nº: 09322-4212

See also our:
art nouveau jewelry, art nouveau brooches, all brooches, jewelry with strass/paste, jewelry with diamond, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
January - February - March - April - May - June - July
August - September - October - November or December.


Additional information:
jewelry glossary - wall of fame - visit us in Antwerp - subscribe to our mailinglist.


What is antique jewelry? - What is estate jewelry? - What is vintage jewelry?