Art Nouveau Stickpin
Woman with Diamond |
| A woman watches with an intriguing half-smile
from within a swirling cascade of untamed tresses. A
sparkling diamond is nestled in a curling lock beneath her
chin. This enigmatic stickpin was created by H.A. Kirby
& Co. in 14kt gold circa 1900.
Henry A. Kirby was a jeweler based in Providence, Rhode Island who created fine gold jewelry and kindred items from the late 1800s until his death in 1920. In the years around 1900 his firm created fantastic/exotic jewels in the Art Nouveau taste. Some were figural like this stickpin, others vaguely hinted at fantastic plants or strange organic forms. Still others were just fascinatingly weird. These jewels, although influenced by the Art Nouveau style, largely reflected the idiosyncratic imaginations of the jeweler/jewelers who created them. This stickpin is well crafted with a sturdy pin to securely hold it on the lapel (see picture below). The upper pin stem is stamped "14K" and with the maker's mark of H.A. Kirby (a small Maltese cross).
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Here are a few more elegant jewels from the
past ...
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| Antique Jewelry Gallery Antique Stickpin Gallery If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, I can be reached at 978 525-8951 or arthur@jewelryexpert.com.
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