1st half 20th century

A time of profound changes

The first half of the 20th century was characterized above all by the political and socio-historical events of the end of imperialism and the two World Wars. While the period before the First World War was still characterized by an innovative creative drive and inventive spirit in all social, technical and artistic areas, the outbreak of war, which presented itself as a cruel battle of materials, marked a clear caesura within society.

These profound upheavals were only replaced by the newfound vitality of Art Déco and the Roaring Twenties, a heyday of art, science and entertainment culture. The economic upswing was in full swing and general purchasing power was on the rise. However, this euphoria was to be short-lived: the global economic crisis of 1929-1939 led to renewed social tensions, which resulted in political radicalization, among other things, and thus also led to the Second World War.

Jewellery between tradition and modernity

On the one hand, jewellery of the first half of the 20th century is still indebted to the traditional, historicist tendencies of the 19th century; on the other hand, it clearly reflects the creative movements of the time, the wealth of ideas and an all-encompassing stylistic rethinking.

Join us on our journey into the turbulent beginnings of the 20th century and discover small and large treasures of that era online and on site in Munich.