Curled Leaf Clef Brooch in Gold & Silver | Old-Cut Diamonds with Natural Pearl | Art Nouveau c.1890

A beautifully composed brooch in gold and silver, designed as a curled leaf in the Art Nouveau style, c.1890.

The form is fluid and sculptural, a single sweeping curve of precious metal, tapering to a point and set with a luminous natural pearl.

Set with two old-cut diamonds (0.7ct), perfectly placed within the sweep of the design, one near the top, one lower down, they bring a soft sparkle and gentle contrast to the rich warmth of the gold.

The use of both silver and gold is typical of the period, as is the subtle asymmetry, nothing is forced, yet everything is intentional.

Marked with French import hallmarks (owl for gold, swan for silver), the brooch was likely made in another European workshop and brought into France at the turn of the century, a period defined by organic forms and a deep love for nature.

Quietly luxurious and effortlessly elegant, this piece carries all the hallmarks of late 19th-century design at its most refined.

Available exclusively at ELTONS, Grays Antique Market, Mayfair, London.