Art Nouveau Inspired Engagement Rings
Originally called ‘le style modern’ in the 1890s, the name Art Nouveau is of course French and can be translated as ‘new art’. It challenged the strict stylings of the Victorian era with a new eclectic and natural form that found its way into everyday items. It enhanced old elements such as flame and shell imagery as well as Rococo techniques, and brought into the picture new organic elements such as imagery with insects, grasses and seaweed to name a few. So if you are considering having a butterfly or dragonfly inspired engagement ring, this could be the perfect way to move forward with your ideas!
If you are dazzled by Parisian styles then this might just be the inspiration you are looking for, for a truly stunning engagement ring. Although you usually think of France when you think of Art Nouveau the inspiration for this movement is actually believed to have come from a Czech artist known as Alponse Mucha, in fact it was originally known as ‘Style Mucha’! At the turn of the 20th century Art Nouveau became popular across Europe in areas such as Belgium, Germany, Spain, Latvia, Finland to name a few. Did you know it was also known in Germany as ‘Jugendstil’ which translates to ‘youth style’ and ‘Stile Liberty’ in Italy? Just like languages often have their own regional dialects Art Nouveau came to vary from country to country. In the UK Art Nouveau came into being from arts and crafts movements and it was not long before Glasgow became a well known hub for this style.
Art Nouveau was known for it organic plant and floral motifs and became so popular it became a ‘total’ style which became a part of the everyday, it was used in; architecture, art, ceramics, lamps, stained glass windows, textiles, jewellery, furniture and you can even see it decorating musical instruments and in advertisements! It was stylised by harmonising curvilinear forms, which were sometimes described as having an undulating ‘whiplash’ effect!
Jewellery in this period saw a reimagining of approach as the artistic elements of pieces became a key feature. More unusual options became favoured with oriental inspiration taking a prominent seat in design ideas. Enamelling became a popular option for jewellery. Art Nouveau also encouraged the use of less commonly used gemstones in engagement rings and wedding rings as well as adornments for other items e.g. semi-precious stones were use more regularly and opal became a key gemstone, along with the regular use of glass and ivory, with the French jeweller René Lalique leading the way in current trends.
If your partner is a fan of art and architectural movements this might be the right style for her engagement ring. With famous artists and architects such as Aubrey Beardsley, Gustav Klimt, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Jan Toorop… you might even be familiar with the Tiffany lamp which was made famous by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the USA, with great artists taking inspiration from this movement you certainly can’t go wrong!