Floral Art Nouveau Brooch with Mississippi Pearls in Gold, Bippart

Art Nouveau flourished not only in Europe but also overseas c. 1900. This brooch, for example, was created in the United States and beautifully illustrates the light, floral forms prevalent there in small, wearable designs aimed at an emerging middle class. The composition is centered around wing-shaped Mississippi pearls, which serve as petals here. Gold was no longer used merely to set gemstones tastefully and as discreetly as possible, but became a sculptural element of the design. Here, it has been shaped into the finest, naturalistically veined leaves and tendrils, with the leaves additionally coated in a greenish matte gold finish. This lends the design even greater depth. The brooch bears the maker’s mark of Bippart & Co. of Newark, New Jersey. It was created around the turn of the century or shortly thereafter and is very good in condition. We discovered it here in Berlin.

Estimate:£1,493.45

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