Diana in Profile: A French Gold Brooch by Émile Vernier, circa 1890

Created in France around 1890, this late Victorian or early Art Nouveau brooch presents Diana in finely modelled profile, the crescent moon in her hair and a quiver at her shoulder. As goddess of the hunt, the moon and untamed nature, she embodied independence, strength and feminine self-possession. Subtle diamond accents enliven her jewellery and headdress, catching the light without disturbing the sculptural calm of the design. Signed by Émile Vernier, it belongs to the refined French tradition of the médaille bijou, where mythology, portraiture and jewellery meet.

Jewellery Type
brooch

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
France

Style
Victorian or Art Nouveau jewellery - This jewel appears to stand between Victorian and Art Nouveau taste. It may combine late 19th-century historic or naturalistic decoration with the flowing lines and organic forms of Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau developed around the turn of the 20th century and favoured sinuous curves, floral motifs and integrated design. Late Victorian jewellery often already contained some of the naturalistic and aesthetic elements that led towards it.
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Period
ca. 1890
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
mythology

Theme
Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon, depicted with a crescent moon in her hair and a quiver of arrows over her shoulder

Material 18K
yellow gold (touchstone tested)
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Diamonds
Seven rose-cut diamonds and senailles , set in the crescent moon, earring and necklace. A senaille is a small, simplified rose-cut diamond, generally with only a few polished facets. The total diamond weight is unknown, which is customary for antique jewellery set with rose-cut diamonds and senailles.

All diamonds in our antique and vintage jewellery, irrespective of size or cut, are verified as natural by the IJGC laboratory.

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
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Monogram
The jewel bears the interlaced initials EV, the monogram used by the French sculptor, medallist and metalworker Émile Séraphin Vernier (1852–1927). Vernier was particularly known for applying the art of medal engraving to jewellery and became one of the leading exponents of the French médaille-bijou around 1900.

Hallmarks
The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head (that was in use in France from about 1838) and the French control mark for platinum representing a dog's head (that was in use in France from about 1912).
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Dimensions
diameter 3,30 cm (1,30 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
10,40 gram (6,69 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26203-0077

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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