Antique Opal Ring in Gold, Édouard-Aimé Arnould, Paris, c. 1900

L’Esprit de l’Art Nouveau

Antique Opal Ring in Gold, Édouard-Aimé Arnould, Paris, c. 1900

€ 3,190.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Édouard-Aimé Arnould is one of the most remarkable—though today relatively little-known—representatives of French Art Nouveau. The Parisian goldsmith and jeweller worked at 7 Rue Racine beginning in 1899 and created jewelry that was particularly inspired by the organic forms of Art Nouveau. His designs combine the flowing lines characteristic of the period with meticulous chiseled craftsmanship and a pronounced preference for botanical and zoological motifs. Arnould’s work follows in the tradition of those Parisian goldsmiths who, c. 1900, viewed jewellery as an art form in its own right. Instead of historicist models, he used thistles, ivy, fern leaves, ginkgo leaves, flowers, and insects, which merge into decorative overall forms in asymmetrical compositions. Particularly characteristic is his use of vividly colored gemstones and opals, whose iridescent surfaces aligned with the Symbolist and nature-inspired ideals of Art Nouveau. The catalog Album de bijoux d'art en or ciselé, published by Arnould c. 1900, provides a comprehensive insight into his work. The pieces of jewellery depicted there document the stylistic diversity of his workshop and attest to the high standards with which Arnould marketed his work. Contemporary artists and illustrators contributed to the presentation of his designs, underscoring Maison Arnould’s commitment to combining art and craftsmanship. This ring, crafted from high-karat gold in several colours, exemplifies these design principles. The ring’s shoulders fan out into finely crafted leaf motifs reminiscent of Egyptian lotus designs. They flow organically around a large opal, whose vibrant play of colours—with intense pink-red reflections—creates a striking contrast to the sculpturally modeled gold. The “ARNOULD” signature on the ring band and the Parisian eagle’s head hallmark confirm its origin. The piece of jewellery was created c. 1900 and thus belongs to the heyday of French Art Nouveau. Signed works by Arnould are comparatively rare today. They represent an important testament to the Parisian art of jewellery making, which, alongside the more famous names of René Lalique, Georges Fouquet, and Lucien Gaillard, played a decisive role in shaping the development of Art Nouveau. It is precisely the combination of artful goldsmithing, a nature-inspired vocabulary of forms, and rich symbolism that gives Arnould’s work a unique place within European jewelry art at the turn of the century.

Size & Details

L’Esprit de l’Art Nouveau

€ 3,190.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

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L’Esprit de l’Art Nouveau

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