Antique Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Lovely Lady Brooch.

Antique Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Lovely Lady Brooch.

France early 1900s

Size 2 cm W x 1 cm H

This is a beautiful vintage sterling silver Art Nouveau woman brooch from the early 1900s. The brooch has a stunning lady with flowing locks of hair in the traditional Art Nouveau style and is very sweet.

ART NOUVEAU JEWELRY:

Art Nouveau (“new art”) jewelry was created in France between about 1895 and 1910, coming on the heels of the “overwrought” designs of the Victorian era (which ended with Queen Victoria’s death in 1901) and creating a striking contrast to the mainstream Edwardian designs of that time.

Art Nouveau jewelry was a reaction to a number of things going on in French society at that time, including women’s fight to secure more rights for themselves outside of the home by getting an education and a job.

While jewelry with a similar aesthetic was being made in other countries during the same time period--for example, Jungenstil in Germany and Austria--true Art Nouveau jewelry is decidedly French.