Elegant Earrings with Diamonds & Natural Pearls, c. 1910 & Later

At the beginning of the 20th century, the image of women in Europe changed with unprecedented speed. With the awakening of modernity, posture, dress and self-image changed, and this new freedom also found expression in art. Architecture, painting and jewelry design strove for clarity, for form, for a new beauty beyond the overloaded. The age of Art Nouveau had dawned. The earrings presented here date from this era, and their elegance and graphic austerity fully reflect the spirit of Central European Art Nouveau. Made from later rhodium-plated gold and silver, they combine masterful craftsmanship with a fine sense of proportion. A total of sixty-six old-cut and baguette-cut diamonds, weighing a total of around 2.48 carats, sit in geometric settings. Their cool brilliance forms a harmonious contrast to the soft shimmer of two natural pearls, which complete the ensemble with a light, iridescent sheen. The design follows clear lines that are typical of Viennese Art Nouveau designs from c. 1910. The balance between decorative austerity and sensual elegance shows the influence of the Secession style, the artistic movement led by Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser and Josef Hoffmann, which reduced ornament to its pure form and art to its essence. Pieces of jewellery such as these earrings translate this idea of the "pure line" into precious metal and light - they are small works of art that embody the ideal of beauty through clarity. We discovered the earrings in Vienna.

Estimate:£4,153.71

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