Jugendstil Ohrringe
(from 1890 to 1910)
The dawn of a new century
At the beginning of the 20th century, Art Nouveau marked the end of historicism, i.e. the return to stylistic elements of the past, and demanded a completely new design language for the first time. People ventured into abstraction and favoured motifs from flora and fauna, which were used in organically curved ornaments.
Old Art Nouveau earrings therefore often consisted of filigree pendants in imaginative shapes, set with coloured gemstones, diamonds and pearls.
Works of art in the smallest of spaces
Ancient Art Nouveau earrings often appeared as long suspensions in floral form, including diamond-studded foliage, coloured stone briolettes or stylised bunches of grapes. The artistic effect of an object took precedence over its monetary value, which is why Art Nouveau jewellery was made from gold doublé, silver and gold in equal measure.
By setting them with coloured stones or finely shimmering pearls and using translucent or window enamel, Art Nouveau earrings look like works of art in the smallest of spaces and have lost none of their fairytale effect to this day. A component that also comes into its own with Art Nouveau brooches, for example.
Art Nouveau earrings as a symbol
The ornaments of Art Nouveau jewellery were also always given symbolic significance. For example, the eye symbolised the battle of light against darkness. Flowers embodied the female being in all its many facets and some plants, such as poppies or lily of the valley, were used in jewellery not only for their decorative qualities, but also for their intoxicating components.
Such an attribution of meaning also extended to the gemstones used in jewellery. Opal, for example, was attributed magical powers.
A rare gem
With Art Nouveau earrings in gold or silver, you own a piece of wearable history with a highly decorative character. Their rarity on today's market should also be noted. While Art Nouveau rings, for example, were easier to store and preserve due to their small size, it was sometimes a challenge to keep a pair of earrings in good condition during a period characterised by world wars and political and social upheavals.
The range of well-preserved Art Nouveau ear studs is therefore small. All the more reason for us to invite you to browse the Halsbandaffaire online shop or buy our jewellery in Munich.