Dragonfly Woman
Lalique’s large corsage ornament: a woman turning into a dragonfly with enamel wings.
Lalique showed the jewel at the Paris Exposition of 1900. It is too large to wear – a work of art rather than jewellery. It was bought by Calouste Gulbenkian and is in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon.
Materials: Gold, plique-à-jour enamel, chrysoprase, moonstone, diamonds
Manufacture: The wings in backless translucent enamel; the woman’s body carved in chrysoprase.
The wings of translucent enamel that let light through like glass.
The woman’s body passing into the insect’s.