ART NOUVEAU: (1895-1915)

Art Nouveau jewelry exhibits the free-flowing style which was in vogue for the time. Pieces
from this time period are highly collectible. Meaning “New Art”, it represented figural images,
flowers and insects. Enameling was very popular for adding vibrant colors to jewelry in this
period. Yellow gold came back in vogue and the trend was generally a lighter and more flowing
sense of design, rather than the heavier look used in the Victorian era. Pearls, opals, amber and
coral were popular choices of what was considered to be the “softer stones” of the period.

**Note that labels designate styles and periods. Many styles over-lap during periods of time and
nothing precisely begins and ends as we might wish in our attempt to classify antique jewelry.
The above designations of Periods/Styles must be considered only a GUIDE to learn about
antique jewelry.

Reference Materials:

Compete Price Guide to Antique Jewelry-First Edition
Richard E. Gilbert and James H. Wolf

Antique Jewelry History Seminar N.A.J.A. Annual Conference
Karen Lorene

Thomas Elliott, G.J.G (GIA)
President
North American Gemological Laboratory, LLC
13400 NE 20th St
Suite 19
Bellevue, WA 98005
USA
425-637-0075 off
425-283-0449 fax