Three-Dimensional Antique Gold Brooch, c. 1860

Realism, or Naturalism, was a prominent movement in the arts of the mid-19th century. In literature, Émile Zola and Gerhart Hauptmann are representatives of this style; in painting, Courbet and Max Liebermann are among the best-known artists. In the field of jewelry art, works from this movement are somewhat less well-known and are usually grouped under the term “Biedermeier” in German-speaking countries. In fact, Realism in the field of jewellery can be divided into two categories. In the 1840s and 1850s, intricately designed, lifelike flowers, gnarled branches, blossoms made of enamel or finely chased gold sheet, and birds with delicate plumage all in vogue, blurring the line between nature and its imitation. From the middle of the century onward, however, the designs became increasingly subdued and smooth. More frequently than before, we now see knotted ribbons and bows, tabs, ropes threaded through rings, and loops—and even gears and screws rendered in gold. The previously mimetic forms are increasingly giving way to abstract ornaments. This very good-conditioned brooch reflects this later style. It is designed as a round frame that holds a movable sphere at its center. The individual forms are bold, curved, and reflect the light. All parts are polished and made of gold; only the varying angles and a few fluted or matte sections add variation to the play of light. The brooch was embossed from gold sheet metal over steel molds and produced as a small, hollow series in a workshop. This was a common method of the time for creating large, attractive pieces of jewellery. To stabilize it, the brooch is very likely filled with plaster or resin. We discovered the brooch in Hannover.

Estimate:$1,100.49

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