• Home
• RSS 2.0
• Contact Us
• SiteMap

What can you tell me about my art nouveau jewelry?

I bought two pieces of art nouveau jewelry at an auction this weekend. One is a lavalier-type necklace, the other is a large pendant with two bails on the back. I would like to know more about them. I can't seem to find anything similar online. They are both hallmarked with 925 and what looks like a lion in a square. These are the links to the auctioneers website that have the lots:

The first one is in the upper left. It is oval and looks like two birds. It also has two stones on it.
http://www.seymourauctions.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23915&papass=&sort=1&thecat=64

This is the second. It is the necklace that cuts through the center of the lot. It looks like a lavalier and has a lapis stone in it.
http://www.seymourauctions.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23977&papass=&sort=1&thecat=64

925 refers to their sterling silver purity - here indicating a silver purity of 925 parts per thousand, or 92.5% silver content. As regards the lion marking, it tells you who made the pieces: compare the appearance of your lion with those listed at http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilvermarksXJTRE.html
Thanks for writing about the lavalier-type necklace - I enjoyed looking the word up and finding out about Louis 1V mistress from whom the name was derived. You probably know all about it, but here is the link for anyone who is interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchesse_de_la_Valli%C3%A8re#Mistress

2008-05-26 18:24:24 by Emily S | Posted in Sculpture