Antique Art Nouveau Jugendstil brooch. Gilded 900 silver and plique-a-jour enamel. Made in Pforzheim Germany by Meyle & Mayer circa 1900. Made for the French market.
Measurements:
Approxiimately 1 1/4 inches (3.5cm) wide by 1 1/8 inch (3cm) high. Weighs 8.6 grams.
Description:
Assymetric, organic, roughly rectangular in shape with elements of foliage overlapping the outer gilt silver border. Highly sculptural, the head of the woman and foliage are quite 3-dimentional. The brooch depicts a woman's head emerging from a swirling mass of foliage. Typical of the Art Nouveau / Jugendstil era, the beautiful face with long, wildly flowing locks of hair, dissolving into the background of leaves. Leaves with outer gilt-silver borders and plique-a-jour enamel in shades of green and pink. Exceptional for the beauty, elegance and fine workmanship. The subject is also highly sought after as it includes the most popular elements of the Art Nouveau period that appealed to the fine French and European aesthetic of the time.
Marks:
There are a number of hallmarks and makers marks: The back of the brooch has engraved 900 for the high quality silver; DEPOSE for the French market; the Meyle & Mayer butterfly logo for the maker. The hooked clasp has an M and another mark that is partly legible and seems to includes the letter I.
Condition:
generally good commensurate with age. The pin at the back is possibly replaced (it is silver and not gilded silver like the rest of the metal). The extremely delicate plique a jour enamel is generally in very good condition with a couple of very minor scratches. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.
