Comte d'Epinay de Briort Art Nouveau Medal-Jewel "Habillé" Pendant Brooch and Chain
Regular price
$6,500
Created circa 1900, this Art Nouveau medal-jewel habillé is composed of 18K gold and diamonds, designed and engraved by the Comte d'Epinay de Briort. The medal-jewel bears an image of a young woman with upswept hair wearing rose-cut diamond earrings, necklace and aigrette, and a ruffled gown, suspended from a detachable 18K gold ropetwist chain. Sculptural and exquisite in detail, this small but substantial medal-jewel by a prominent French sculptor evokes the spirit of youth and beauty.
Item #: N-20871
Artist: Prosper, Comte d'Epinay de Briort
Country: France
Circa: 1900
Dimensions: Medal: 1.25" diameter; Chain: 20.5" length
Materials: 10 rose-cut diamonds; 18K Gold
Signed: French assay marks, artist's monogram, makers mark "HM"
Documentation: Medallist work by Prosper, Comte d'Epinay, is pictured in Art Nouveau Jewelry, by Vivienne Becker, fig. 145.
Item #: N-20871
Artist: Prosper, Comte d'Epinay de Briort
Country: France
Circa: 1900
Dimensions: Medal: 1.25" diameter; Chain: 20.5" length
Materials: 10 rose-cut diamonds; 18K Gold
Signed: French assay marks, artist's monogram, makers mark "HM"
Documentation: Medallist work by Prosper, Comte d'Epinay, is pictured in Art Nouveau Jewelry, by Vivienne Becker, fig. 145.
Born in Mauritius, the Comte d'Epinay de Briort had a varied career in Paris, London and Rome as an artist, sculptor, medallist, engraver, jeweler, and, secretly, a wicked caricaturist of European political, literary and society figures. His cartoons were published in Vanity Fair from 1868 until the time of his death. A skilled sculptor and engraver who understood the mechanical method of reducing a detailed hand engraving ("tour à réduire") to jewel size, his work was eagerly sought by the French maisons to satisfy the demand for "medal-jewels" that caught fire in the 1880s. Maison Boucheron frequently commissioned Prosper to complete orders for its "medalliste" jewels.
Born in Mauritius, the Comte d'Epinay de Briort had a varied career in Paris, London and Rome as an artist, sculptor, medallist, engraver, jeweler, and, secretly, a wicked caricaturist of European political, literary and society figures. His cartoons were published in Vanity Fair from 1868 until the time of his death. A skilled sculptor and engraver who understood the mechanical method of reducing a detailed hand engraving ("tour à réduire") to jewel size, his work was eagerly sought by the French maisons to satisfy the demand for "medal-jewels" that caught fire in the 1880s. Maison Boucheron frequently commissioned Prosper to complete orders for its "medalliste" jewels.
Related Content
Gem X Club Presents: Art Nouveau, The Genesis of Jewelry As Fine Art
Gem X's series of virtual jewelry chats, GemfliX, is always an honor to participate in. For our most recent conversation, Ben Macklowe discussed "Art Nouveau: The Genesis of Jewelry As Fine Art" in great detail, to an audience of more than 250 jewelry enthusiasts. Catch a glimpse of the conversation below, and visit the Gem X site to view more. ...
