In this 18ct yellow gold Art Nouveau brooch from 1900, an openwork aureole topped with morning glory arches over a scenery within the centre the profile of a fair maiden letting her locks lash in the wind. On the left and right bottom, a morning glory glooms as an iris flaunts by the neck of the lady. Dispersed over the hearts of the flowers, seven rose cut diamonds glisten from the warm yellow gold glow of this antique jewel.

Antique jewelry object group: brooch

Condition: excellent condition

Country of origin: Unknown, but because of the nature of the name “Zacha” (signed in the piece), we wouldn’t be surprised if it was made in central Europe.

Style: Art Nouveau РArt Nouveau (French for New Style) is an international movement and style of art, architecture and applied art Рespecially the decorative arts Рthat 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., whichpopularised the style, and in Holland as ‚ÄúSla-olie-stijl‚Äù, Dutch for ‚Äúsalad oil style‚Äù 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.

Style specifics: Art Nouveau – Although Art Nouveau took on distinctly localised tendencies as its geographic spread increase some general characteristics are indicative of the form. A description published in Pan magazine of Hermann Obrist’s wall-hanging Cyclamen(1894) described it as “sudden violent curves generated by the crack of a whip”, which became well known during the early spread of Art Nouveau.

Subsequently, not only did the work itself become better known as The Whiplash, but the term “whiplash” is frequently applied to the characteristic curves employed by Art Nouveau artists. Such decorative “whiplash” motifs, formed by dynamic,undulating, and flowing lines in a syncopated rhythm, are found throughout the architecture, painting, sculpture, and other forms of Art Nouveau design. (from: Wikipedia)

Period: ca. 1900

Source of inspiration: Mother Nature

Theme: Ladies head on flowery background

Material: 18ct yellow gold

Diamonds: Seven rose-cut diamonds and senailles. A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.

Signature: “Zacha”, a name that we haven’t found any information on.

Hallmarks: No trace.

Dimensions: 3.10 cm (1.22 inch) x 3.05 cm (1.20 inch)

Weight: 19.80 gram (12.73 dwt)