Elegant Art Nouveau Pendant With Amethyst & Pearls in Gold, Great

The early 20th century was a time of new beginnings, luxury, and ease. No longer was it only the nobility who celebrated glittering parties; the bourgeoisie—newly wealthy and prestigious thanks to industrialization—also sought to partake in the pleasures of life. This era was marked by lavish balls, sparkling champagne, and elegant salons. In the evenings, diamonds shimmered in ever more delicate platinum settings on ball gowns, décolletés, and slender wrists. But even the jewellery designed for an elegant lady’s daytime activities—afternoon errands or social appointments—reflected this lifestyle of lightness and refinement. This pendant is a wonderful example of that sensibility. Its design is free from historical revival styles; instead, pure geometry governs its form, entirely in keeping with the ideals of linear Art Nouveau, which was particularly influential in Germany and Austria, but also admired in Great Britain. A golden circle is suspended from a delicate chain via a long vertical bar. An amethyst marks the transition, and fine pearls, mounted on knife-edge bars, seem to float in midair. Additional fine gilding on the slightly reddish gold lends the pendant a soft, velvety glow. Crafted from 15-karat gold—an alloy used exclusively in Great Britain until 1932—the piece’s refined craftsmanship and stylistically typical design are further underscored by this detail, which also helps confirm its age.

Estimate:$1,661.13

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