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Lot 15

An Art Nouveau 18k gold and plique-à-jour enamel pendant necklace,
circa 1900

19 September 2017, 13:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$21,250 inc. premium

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An Art Nouveau 18k gold and plique-à-jour enamel pendant necklace, circa 1900

designed as the goddess Persephone, with blue enamel wings, accented by an old European-cut diamond, to a cable chain interspersed with four enamel and gold bat links; with French assay mark; gross weight approximately: 75.20 grams; length: 28 7/8in. (adjustable)

Footnotes

As with most Art Nouveau jewelry, themes centered around transformation; both the female form and nature were represented, often combined and expressed in allegorical figures of yellow gold and delicate enamel, accented with gems.

This necklace personifies the Greek Goddess of the Night, Persephone. Young, beautiful Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus, who was abducted by her uncle Hades, and fated to live half the year with him in the underworld, and the other half with her mother on Olympus. The plique-a-jour enamel bats represent death and rebirth of the seasons, and correspond most likely to the dormant winter month. Immortal Persephone, depicted as a young maiden, personifies rebirth.

Persephone is the Goddess of springtime, harvest and the underworld. Her story explains the change of seasons. Known for her importance, exceptional beauty and power, undoubtedly this figure was a favorite symbol incorporated in jewelry near the turn of the century, when women's roles in society were also changing too.

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