-Art Nouveau 1890 Brooch In 14Kt Gold Montana Sapphires And Mississippi Pearl

All American art Nouveau brooch with national gemstones.

Stunning piece, created in America during the early Art Nouveau period, back in the 1890. It was carefully crafted with free forms, organic and scrolls motifs in solid yellow gold of 14 karats and embellished with natural earth mined stones, only found in the United States as Mississippi river and the Montana mountains. It is fitted at the reverse, with a hinged pin bar with a security hook and a larger hook to hang a small watch.

The work is magnificent, with a beautiful workmanship and attention to detail that really make this piece stand out. It is definitely a piece of great American artistic value that brings together all the elements of the art nouveau style. This would be a great addition to a jewelry collection from this period.

Sapphires: Mount in bezel setting, with 2 round faceted Montana blue sapphires of 0.40 carats.

Pearl: Mount in the center in a floating bar setting, with 1 free form natural freshwater white pearl from the Mississippi river of 12 mm by 6 mm by 4 mm.

Birthstone: Sapphires for the month of September and pearl for June.

Weight: 4.25 Grams, (2.73 Dwt).

Measurements: 26 mm by 37 mm (1.02 x 1.46 Inches).

Hallmarks: Stamped with the mark for the assay of the gold, "14KT".

Mississippi Pearls

These pearls were first seriously observed in the late 19th century, Mississippi River pearls are found in mollusks that are native to the Mississippi River. Natural American pearls are among the oldest and rarest of universal gems. These pearls are found in many different species of mussels in the American rivers and lakes. The Mississippi River is known to have gifted the world with some of the rarest of gems. 

Montana Sapphires

One of the most striking differences is their color. Sapphires from Montana are unique in that they naturally occur in light pastels, unique blue-greens, and smoky grays. So, a Montana sapphire could be a calming leaf green or a sky blue-grey. Montana sapphire is not found in very large rough pieces. Considering that a rough nugget will yield a cut stone only about 1/3 of the original size means that large, fine quality faceted Montana sapphires are very rare. Although sapphires can be found throughout Montana today, the majority of the finds can be attributed to four major locales: Yogo Gulch, Rock Creek, Dry Cottonwood Creek, and the gravel bars along the Missouri River northeast of Helena.

Art Nouveau Jewelry 

Or so called the new art jewelry was created in Europe and United States between about 1890 and 1915, coming on the heels of the “overwrought” designs of the Victorian era (which ended with Queen Victoria's death in 1901) and creating a striking contrast to the mainstream Edwardian designs of that time. While jewelry with a similar aesthetic was being made in other countries during the same time period--for example, Jugendstil in Germany and Austria--true Art Nouveau jewelry is decidedly extended in France. It was a short-lived period in jewelry design, lasting only about 15 years, because of the onset of World War I and because the pieces were so over-the-top that people quickly lost interest in them. Characterised by lavish and organic ornamentation, the Art Nouveau movement blossomed in Vienna at the turn of the 20th Century, with influential Austrians architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos making significant architectural contributions that helped shape the city's skyline as we see it today.

 Collateral: This jewelry brooch is accompanied by the original antique presentation jewelry box.

Condition: The overall condition of this piece is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold. All gemstones are secured in the settings. This brooch has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: P062423MMAS/.0796