Description
Alongside the insects, dragonflies especially, that define so much Art Nouveau jewellery, the lizard was another recurring subject the movement kept returning to. Its sinuous, curving body suited the era’s obsession with organic, flowing line. This brooch, by the German house Gebrüder Falk, set with ruby accents, is a strong example of exactly that.
Gebrüder Falk brings the same combination this collection keeps returning to: precious material, silver and genuine ruby, handled with the movement’s naturalist sensibility.
Why the lizard motif specifically rewarded a skilled silversmith. A convincing lizard has to read correctly from every angle while still following the body’s actual anatomy, no cheating the proportions.
What to look for. The ruby settings should be secure and the silverwork’s line should read as a genuine, anatomically plausible lizard rather than an abstracted squiggle, both true of this piece.
This piece is part of a small, genuinely personal collection of antique jewellery, gathered over years rather than acquired for resale.
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