Antique Art Nouveau arm ring bangle bracelet. 18k yellow gold. Made in France circa 1880's - 1900 by the Gross & Langoulant Workshop.
Measurements:
Weight is 47.7 grams. Inner diameter approximately 2 3/4 inches (6.75cm).
Description :
Large, heavy cylindrical gold bangle. Almost a full circle with a gap between the terminals. The terminals and area behind them in the form of a pair of mythological heads - a satyr and a nymph staring into one another's eyes and smiling gleefully. The satyr with full, grinning lips, pointy ears, little horns and engraved hints of a hairy beard. Behind his head, pairs of pine cones. See the story below. The nymph is a beautiful, smiling young girl with wavy hair held by a bandeau. Her hair floats down the back of her head to her neck, surrounded on either side by pairs of pine cones. Open space between the two heads, who are facing one another and both smiling or grinning.
Necks lead to a pair of raised golden loop or cylindrical borders surrounding a winding rope-twist in gold, twisting about 7 times around the bangle. A bangle made to be worn high on arm or bicep is typically called an armlet, arm ring, or upper arm cuff.
Details of workmanship are outstanding - from the delicate modelling to the details, including teeth, buds and curls.
The considerable size and heft of this bangle, also make it an exceptional standout. Arm rings, intended to be worn on the upper arm are very rare.
Marks and Metal:
The rope-twist collar behind the satyr has both the French eagle head mark for 18k gold and a slightly worn diamond-shaped lozenge with the hallmark of the Gross & Langoulant Workshop.
Condition:
With the exception of a single ding inside the middle of the bangle (opposite the heads), condition is good with negligible wear commensurate with age. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.
THE STORY:
Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, fertility, pleasure, madness and revelry. Satyrs were his followers - mythological creatures, half men and half goats, who were his wild and revelrous followers.
In ancient Greece, the pine cone was a significant symbol of fertility, abundance, and spiritual enlightenment, most notably associated with the god Dionysus. The satyr with the pine cones are clearly symbols of the followers of Dionysus. The pine cone symbolizes the wild, fertile, and ecstatic aspects of nature associated with both satyrs and Dionysus.
Since the days of Ancient Greece, cylindrical bangles with various heads have been popular and never gone out of style. In India, the same form often depicts crocodiles, elephants or foo dogs. Many cultures have created similar bangles, but the French during the late 19th century excelled in their modelling and originality, creating fantastic heads of varying subjects. While very rare, we have seen these bangles with the heads of animals as well as humans and other forms.
Note:
in case of misunderstanding: we are selling one bangle with 2 terminals (heads) even if some of the pictures are showing more than one view of them. Please enquire if you are not clear about this.
