French Art Nouveau Medal
These french art nouveau medal pieces are intricate gold pendants and charms carrying religious iconography and flowing floral motifs.
French Art Nouveau Medal
When you search for a french art nouveau medal, you encounter wearable works of art produced across the late nineteenth and mid twentieth centuries. The pieces on this page are predominantly gold pendants and charms designed to be worn as necklaces or fastened to chains.
Religious iconography dominates the selection, featuring the Virgin Mary, Madonna and Child, and sacred hearts alongside secular subjects like deer hunting horns and love hearts. Most examples originate from the early decades of the twentieth century.
Materials and Techniques
Maker workshops utilised yellow gold, frequently marked at the eighteen karat standard, to shape the foundational medal and charm forms. Artisans also employed yellow rose gold variations for specific commissions.
Translucent vitreous enamel and plique-a-jour techniques bring colour and luminosity to the designs, creating stained-glass effects within pierced gold frameworks. Selected pieces incorporate seed pearls for textural contrast.
French Art Nouveau Medal Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for french art nouveau medal among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The listings on this site span from eighteen ninety through to nineteen fifty, predominantly featuring eighteen karat yellow gold.
Assessing Craftsmanship
The finesse of the metalwork separates standard production from exceptional examples, particularly in the precision of pierced gold and relief carving. Medals featuring signed work by established medallists demonstrate superior sculptural depth in the facial expressions and drapery of the figures.
The preservation of delicate plique-a-jour enamel panels dictates the integrity of a piece. Complete translucent enamel without stress fractures indicates meticulous firing and handling during manufacture.
Emile Monier·Emile Dropsy·Rasumny·Sellier·Ovide Yencesse·Arnault
The French Art Nouveau Medal Glossary
- Plique-a-jour
- An enamelling technique where enamel is applied in cells without a backing, allowing light to shine through transparently much like stained glass. This method requires exceptional skill to prevent cracking during the firing process.
- Medallion
- A large medal shaped piece intended to be worn as pendant jewellery or kept as an commemorative object. They often display detailed portraiture or religious scenes in high relief.
- Seed pearl
- Very small natural or cultured pearls threaded and set into jewellery designs. They provide delicate white accents against polished gold surfaces.
- Charm
- A small decorative pendant attached to a bracelet or necklace. These pieces often feature miniature sculptural motifs executed in solid gold.
- Yellow gold
- An alloy of pure gold combined with silver and copper to create a warm metallic tone. It remains the primary metal found across these historic French designs.
French Art Nouveau Medal: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wear an antique pendant medal?
Suspend the piece from a fine gold chain that matches the eighteen karat tone of the metalwork. Ensure the bail or suspension loop is secure before daily wear.
Layering the medal with simpler chains allows the intricate plique-a-jour enamel and relief carving to remain the focal point of your attire.
Can these charms be worn on a bracelet?
Many of these objects function as charms as well as pendants, though their delicate enamel requires care if worn on a wrist. Consider the daily movement of a bracelet against hard surfaces before attaching hollow or enamelled pieces.
A heavier link chain helps protect the gold suspension ring from excessive friction during wear.
How do I clean vitreous enamel jewellery?
Wipe the gold and enamel surfaces gently with a soft, damp cloth to remove everyday dust and skin oils. Avoid chemical dips, ultrasonic cleaners, and abrasive cloths that can damage delicate plique-a-jour panels.
Store the pendant in an individual lined box away from harder jewellery items to prevent scratching.
What subjects appear on these medals?
Religious figures including the Virgin Mary, Madonna and Child, and Jesus Christ form the majority of the iconography. Secular motifs such as hunting horns and love hearts also appear among the designs.
Inscriptions often accompany the imagery, referencing sacred titles or romantic sentiments in French.