how to clean art nouveau enamel pendants?

Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the surface. Avoid water and liquid silver polish, as moisture can seep into hairline cracks in the enamel and cause it to lift from the metal base. Store the pendant in a fabric pouch away from other pieces. Harder stones and metals will easily scratch the delicate glass surfaces if they rub together in a jewellery box.

what kind of clasps did they use?

Most rely on simple barrel clasps or early spring rings. Brooches feature a basic C-catch where the pin extends slightly past the mount.

I inherited a ring with a woman's face carved into it and some green glass, is that a common style for these?

Carved faces with flowing hair are a defining motif of Art Nouveau jewellery. Makers often combined these sculptural elements with coloured glass or enamel to create complex, unconventional designs. Rings from this period regularly feature women merging into flowers or insects. The green glass might be moulded, or it could be plique-à-jour enamel designed to let the light shine through.

My grandmother left me a dragonfly brooch with really thin, see-through wings but the metal feels quite dark, why is that?

Silver from this era was often deliberately oxidised to create a darker, muted finish. This patination provided a stark contrast to the bright enamel work or pale carved horn used for the wings. The see-through effect on the wings is likely plique-à-jour enamel. Jewellers favoured the dark silver mounts because they made the translucent colours stand out more effectively when worn against clothing.

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Art Nouveau Jewellery

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Art Nouveau jewellery features fluid lines and natural motifs, created at the turn of the twentieth century to adorn women with wearable art rather than simple displays of wealth.