Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
1890s American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Silver
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Moonstone, Turquoise
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold, Gilt Metal
Late 19th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver
1910s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s German Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Sterling Silver, Copper
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Czech Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Brass, Mixed Metal
1890s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Enamel
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Base Metal
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Enamel
18th Century Portuguese Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Topaz, Silver
Early 20th Century Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s German Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold, Gold Plate
1910s European Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Opal, Sapphire, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
1890s European Belle Époque Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Brass, Copper
1910s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1920s Danish Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Cat’s Eye, Silver
1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1920s Spanish Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Opal, 18k Gold
1910s European Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Onyx, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Danish Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Agate, Amber, Silver
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1910s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Ruby, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Early 1900s Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Garnet, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Enamel
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
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Antique Art Nouveau Brooches For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Art Nouveau Brooches?
A Close Look at Art-nouveau Jewelry
Art Nouveau — generally considered to have begun in the late 1800s and ended with the start of World War I — was a movement in the decorative arts that drew inspiration from natural forms, such as trees, flowers and, of course, the human figure. The three main themes present in Art Nouveau jewelry and watches were flora, fauna and women.
Art Nouveau, which reached its pinnacle in the year 1900, spawned from artists who rejected the historicism of their predecessors to create an entirely new visual vocabulary. As compared to Art Deco jewelry’s geometric patterns and sharp lines, the extravagant style of antique Art Nouveau jewelry is characterized by curvilinear forms and whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the Industrial Revolution, and took its inspiration from the theories of the Symbolists, the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the ideas of John Ruskin and his follower William Morris and, most importantly Japanese crafts. (The country was a fertile ground for inspiration after it was opened to the West in 1854.) The Art Nouveau style touched all manners of the arts, including the most exultant jewelry.
Nature was a favorite muse for artists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the hands of 20th-century artists, it was depicted in new ways. For example, a withering flower was considered just as beautiful as one in full bloom. Winged creatures, such as insects and birds, were also a popular subject. Dragonflies and butterflies were particular favorites because they morphed so dramatically in different life stages.
This was also a reference to women, whose role in society was evolving. It was not uncommon to see a piece of jewelry that would at once reference a woman as a winged creature (think René Lalique’s famous Dragonfly brooch, circa 1897–98, at the Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon). However, just as women’s roles were ambiguous, so was their image, as the femmes nouvelle were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized.
In addition to Lalique, vital figures in Art Nouveau jewelry included Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, Vladimir Soloviev, who designed jewelry for Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Fuset Grau of Spain, Karl Rothmuller of Germany and Philippe Wolfers of Belgium.
Art Nouveau jewelers used every “canvas” imaginable, looking beyond brooches and necklaces to belt buckles, fans, tiaras, dog collars (a type of choker necklace), pocket watches, corsages and hair combs. Multicolored gems and enamel could complete this vision better than diamonds. Jewelers also favored pearls, particularly baroque pearls, for their large size and irregular shape. However, opal was the most popular stone — its iridescence harmonized perfectly with the enamel, and it could be carved into any shape. Art Nouveau jewelry was primarily set in yellow gold.
Find a range of antique Art Nouveau jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Brooches for You
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.