French gold Art Nouveau pendant with plique a jour enamel (emaille a fenetre)

One of the nicest little pendants with plique a jour enamel we have ever seen. French Art Nouveau as only the French can make it, refined, tasteful and of superb quality. Too bad we couldn't decipher the remains of the mastermark but we wouldn't be surprised if this beauty was made by one of the famous French jewelers. Just look and enjoy!

Antique jewelry object group: pendant

Country of origin: France

Style: Art Nouveau - Art Nouveau (French for New Style) is an international movement and style of art, architecture and applied art - especially the decorative arts - that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890–1905). The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art". It is also known as Jugendstil, German for "youth style", named after the magazine Jugend, which promoted it, and in Italy, Stile Liberty from the department store in London, Liberty & Co., which popularised the style, and in Holland as “Sla-olie-stijl”, Dutch for “salad oil style” after a advertisement poster for this product that was made in that style. A reaction to academic art of the 19th century, it is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly stylized, flowing curvilinear forms. Art Nouveau is an approach to design according to which artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life. Although Art Nouveau fell out of favour with the arrival of 20th-century modernist styles, it is seen today as an important bridge between the historicism of Neoclassicism and modernism.
See also: Art Nouveau or more info on styles

Style specifics: The use of plique a jour enamel is typically for this period

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

Source of inspiration: Mother Nature

Theme: sunrise or sunset

Material: 18K yellow gold
(more info on precious metals)

Technique: Plique-à-jour, (French for "braid letting in daylight"} is a vitreous enamelling technique where the enamel is applied in cells, similar to cloisonné, but with no backing in the final product, so light can shine through the transparent or translucent enamel. It has a stained-glass like appearance and is considered very challanging technically. (From: Wikipedia)

Signature: illegible remains

Hallmarks: The French control mark representing the head of Mercury that was in use in France from about 1879.
(more info on hallmarks)

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

Dimensions: height 2.78 cm (1.09 inch), width 1.97 cm (0.78 inch), thick 0.22 cm (0.09 inch)

Weight: 3.80 gram (2.44 dwt)

Reference Nº: 10280-3971

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
pendants, jewelry with universe motif, jewelry with plique ajour enamel, jewelry with enamel, yellow gold jewelry, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

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