A few excellent examples of the Art Nouveau style.

An art nouveau gallery giving you a brief look at the exceptional quality and superb design available to the art nouveau collector.

  • Amphora Ivory Porcelain Vase

    Amphora Ivory Porcelain Vase

    An ivory porcelain vase from the portrait series Allegory of Russia designed by Nikolaus Kannhauser for Amphora (circa 1894-95); decoration (circa 1899-1900).

    The tri-lobed body has gilt raised edges and an everted lip. The decoration consists of a frontal portrait of a Russian princess, her head with gold halo. The opposing sides feature painted forest scenes and stylised roses, outlined with gold threading

    For examples of vases from the Allegory of Russia series see: Richard Scott, Ceramics from The House of Amphora, 1890-1915 (Richard L. Scott, 2004) and Byron Vreeland, Monsters & Maidens, Amphora Pottery of the Art Nouveau Era (Byron Vreeland, 2003).

  • Stoneware vase designed by Georges Hoentschel

    Stoneware vase designed by Georges Hoentschel

    A rare and important hand built and carved stoneware vase designed by Georges Hoentschel and executed by Emile Grittel.

    The organic body bears an abstract foliate design with stem-like protrusions around the lip and a squat circular foot. Glazed in deep green, slate gray, and aubergine-brown, with brilliant gold highlights.

    A collaborative effort by architect/designer Georges Hoentschel and ceramist Emile Grittel. A superb example of Art Nouveau ceramics from the Carries School (L'Ecole de Carries). Made in Montriveau, Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, Nievre prefecture, France.

  • Ferdinand Preiss Bronze

    Ferdinand Preiss Bronze

    An art nouveau patinated bronze and ivory figure "Pomona". Modelled as a part robed woman holding a fruit bowl in her out stretched left hand and mounted on a tan marble circular base

  • Bronze by Francois Alphonse Piquemal

    Francois Alphonse Piquemal

    An art nouveau bronze and ivory three quarter length study of a medieval lady wearing a head dress. Mounted on a stepped marble plinth 21cm high, signed.

  • Card Table by Josef Hoffman

    Josef Hoffman & Carl Otto Czeschka

    Card table for Karl Wittgenstein, c1907

    Wiener Werkstatte in Macassar ebony, carved wood, gold-plated. Marquetry in various types of wood, ivory and mother-of-pearl

  • Roayl Dux dragon Vase

    Royal Dux Lustre Pottery Vase

    A well executed Art Nouveau lustre pottery vase with dragon and saurian in combat.

    Bohemia circa 1900.

    Marks: Royal Dux raised pink triangle mark

  • Art Nouveau symbolist bronze by H Schmid

    Art Nouveau Bronze by H Schmid

    Art Nouveau symbolist bronze of a woman in the form of a snail.

    By H Schmid - Austria or Germany circa 1900

    Marks: Signed H Schmid

  • Newcomb College Vase

    Newcomb College Vase

    An exceptional Newcomb College vase of bulbous Art Nouveau form with carved and painted irises.

    Executed and signed by Anna Francis Simpson.


Art Nouveau Inspiritation

The art nouveau designers rejected the inspiration of classical european art and instead looked to Japanese, Celtic and other folk art as a basis for their work.

This can be seen in works by artists such as Gustav Klimt. Typical motifs come from nature: flowers, insects and birds. Lines curve and wind, straight lines were scorned by art nouveau designers.