Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.
The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.
However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)
While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.
Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.
A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.
Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
1940s European Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Malachite, Onyx
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
2010s Italian Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver, Copper, Mixed Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Jade
2010s German Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Crystal, Rock Crystal, Silver, Vermeil
1920s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Ruby, Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
1910s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Enamel
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Yellow Gold
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Jasper, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
1950s Hong Kong Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1950s Hong Kong Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, Tourmaline
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Enamel
1920s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century British Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Base Metal, Enamel
20th Century Swiss Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, Stainless Steel
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Hong Kong Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Ruby, Gold
1910s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
1940s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Enamel
1930s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
1940s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, 18k Gold
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1920s Swiss Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
White Diamond, Platinum
1960s German Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gilt Metal, Stainless Steel
1920s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Pearl, Spinel, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Enamel, Stainless Steel
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1920s Vintage Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Art Deco Objets d'Art and Vertu
Tourmaline