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Antique Art Nouveau Lady Portrait Brooch c 1890 Exotic browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Costume: Pre 1910: item # 661727 GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear 56 Calle Monte Aplanado, NW Albuquerque, NM 87120 Phone: 505.205.1404 Guest Book $179 Free U.S. Priority Shipping (& Gift-Wrap if Desired) |
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As you know if you collect Art Nouveau, authentic "lady portrait" jewels have become extremely hard to find. Even later reproductions are soaring in value, so you simply can't go wrong with a true Victorian treasure like this for less than $200. Making it even more exceptional, it features TWO portrait heads, brilliant Bohemian ruby and emerald pastes and wonderful Arabesque tracery. Adding further to the exotic look that pays tribute to the Victorian love of travel, these Art Nouveau beauties wear elaborate headscarves that suggest North Africa. The gilt finish, well-preserved and beautifully patinated by time, has the rosy cast favored in the 1890s. The brooch -- which could easily double as a necklace by pinning it to a ribbon choker -- measures about 1 3/8 inches round, is highly dimensional and has a nice heft to it that indicates quality. Its original hardware is present: a clasp of the open "C" type and a hinge of the sort introduced in the 1850s. At some point the pinstem, which would have extended well beyond the brooch, was snipped and filed to a new point -- not a bad idea, since the old elongated pins became dangerous when women gave up wearing layers of underclothing. The hinge may have been reattached at one time, since there's quite a lot of flux around it; however, it's gilded over, so could have been there forever. Provenance of the brooch is a Kentucky estate, but I expect it originated in the British Isles -- possibly Scotland, based on the fascinating stylized heart formed by the tails of the scarves. You could look a long time for an Art Nouveau portrait brooch as unusual as this one. There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking! |
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