Lalique's dragonfly brooch
Art Nouveau jewellery in which enamel and glass matter more than precious stones.
René Lalique showed his jewellery at the Paris World's Fair of 1900 and became famous. He chose materials for how they looked, not for what they were worth: horn, enamel and glass together with gold.
The dragonfly, with its transparent wings, was one of Art Nouveau's favourite motifs. Lalique later left jewellery and became a glassmaker.
Materials: Gold, plique-à-jour enamel, glass and semi-precious stones
Manufacture: Goldsmithing with enamel fired in several stages.
The wings in plique-à-jour enamel that let the light through.
Motifs from nature and the female body.
The signature Lalique on the back.