Common Art Nouveau Jewellery Characteristics

With its distinctive and magical appearance, it is not hard to understand why Art Nouveau jewellery is so highly sought after.

Both highly popular and extremely rare, it can be difficult to get your hands on this most prized antique jewellery.

To ensure you never miss an opportunity should you find Art Nouveau jewellery for sale, we have compiled a brief guide to some common Art Nouveau characteristics so you don’t miss out.

Curved lines

Perhaps the most tell-tale trails of Art Nouveau jewellery are the curved, organic lines – a la Rene Lalique – used within the design. These sweeping, ornamental shapes contrast with the stronger, geometric styles associated with early Art Deco jewellery, which was being crafted during the same period.

A prime example is this Art Nouveau ruby and diamond necklace finished with a pearl. Note the lack of straight lines or symmetry.

Nature

Another recurring theme is stylised imagery featuring motifs from nature. Pieces will often feature flora and fauna, as can be seen in this finely crafted Art Nouveau brooch featuring ruby-encrusted flowers.

Materials

Art Nouveau jewellery used traditional materials such as silver and gold but also incorporated more coloured gemstones. Natural pearls, amethysts, and garnet can be found in abundance – as well as precious gems such as diamond or sapphire – as can be seen in this gorgeous natural Ceylon sapphire Art Nouveau ring.

Curved lines, stylised depictions of nature and the use of bright gemstones contribute to the mystery and fantasy that characterise Art Nouveau jewellery and make it a fine addition to any collection.

If you have any questions about this or any other, style of antique jewellery, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be more than happy to give you some guidance.