Art Nouveau Earrings
Art Nouveau — generally considered to have begun in the late 1800s and ended with the start of World War I — was a movement in the decorative arts that drew inspiration from natural forms, such as trees, flowers and, of course, the human figure. The three main themes present in Art Nouveau jewelry and watches were flora, fauna and women.
Art Nouveau, which reached its pinnacle in the year 1900, spawned from artists who rejected the historicism of their predecessors to create an entirely new visual vocabulary. As compared to Art Deco jewelry’s geometric patterns and sharp lines, the extravagant style of antique Art Nouveau jewelry is characterized by curvilinear forms and whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the Industrial Revolution, and took its inspiration from the theories of the Symbolists, the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the ideas of John Ruskin and his follower William Morris and, most importantly Japanese crafts. (The country was a fertile ground for inspiration after it was opened to the West in 1854.) The Art Nouveau style touched all manners of the arts, including the most exultant jewelry.
Nature was a favorite muse for artists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the hands of 20th-century artists, it was depicted in new ways. For example, a withering flower was considered just as beautiful as one in full bloom. Winged creatures, such as insects and birds, were also a popular subject. Dragonflies and butterflies were particular favorites because they morphed so dramatically in different life stages.
This was also a reference to women, whose role in society was evolving. It was not uncommon to see a piece of jewelry that would at once reference a woman as a winged creature (think René Lalique’s famous Dragonfly brooch, circa 1897–98, at the Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon). However, just as women’s roles were ambiguous, so was their image, as the femmes nouvelle were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized.
In addition to Lalique, vital figures in Art Nouveau jewelry included Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, Vladimir Soloviev, who designed jewelry for Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Fuset Grau of Spain, Karl Rothmuller of Germany and Philippe Wolfers of Belgium.
Art Nouveau jewelers used every “canvas” imaginable, looking beyond brooches and necklaces to belt buckles, fans, tiaras, dog collars (a type of choker necklace), pocket watches, corsages and hair combs. Multicolored gems and enamel could complete this vision better than diamonds. Jewelers also favored pearls, particularly baroque pearls, for their large size and irregular shape. However, opal was the most popular stone — its iridescence harmonized perfectly with the enamel, and it could be carved into any shape. Art Nouveau jewelry was primarily set in yellow gold.
Find a range of antique Art Nouveau jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Earrings
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Onyx, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Latvian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Earrings
Opal, Ruby, Topaz, Gold, 22k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, ...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold, Yel...
1980s German Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
Gold Plate
1910s European Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s German Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
Gold Plate
1990s French Art Nouveau Earrings
2010s Swedish Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
White Diamond, Quartz, Diamond, Gold, Platinum, White Gold, Rhodium, 18k...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Tanzanite, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Opal, White Diamond,...
1980s German Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
Gold Plate, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Nouveau Earrings
Gold Plate
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Swedish Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
18k Gold
1910s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Tanzanite, Opal, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond,...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Earrings
Amethyst, Ruby, Tanzanite, Topaz, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 1900s Czech Antique Art Nouveau Earrings
Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Earrings
Amethyst, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Earrings
24k Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Ruby, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Emerald, White ...
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Earrings
Onyx, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl,...
1880s Unknown Antique Art Nouveau Earrings
Onyx, Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Ruby, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Emerald, White Diamond, D...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Onyx, Emerald, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, D...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Malachite, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 9k Gold, Yello...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18...
2010s Japanese Art Nouveau Earrings
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Nouveau Earrings
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Agate, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwate...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Earrings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Citrine, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Onyx, White Diamond, D...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Ruby, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Onyx, White Diamond, Diam...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Onyx, White Diamond, Diamond, C...
