The Amazing Art Nouveau Jewelry of René Lalique, Portugal

There are few experiences more enjoyable for a traveler than being completely surprised at what a destination has to offer.

Lisbon itself is such a destination, with so much to see, taste and experience.  One of the highlights of our visit to that city was seeing the imaginative creations of René Lalique at the city’s Museu Calouste Gulbenkian.  It was a glimpse into a world I’d not experienced in such beautiful diversity.

There’s a lot to see in the Gulbenkian Museum, but the highlight was a room filled with the beautiful and imaginative creations of René Lalique.  Lalique was a good friend of the Museum’s founder, Calouste Gulbenkian.  So much did Mr. Gulbenkian admire Mr. Lalique’s work that he purchased almost 200 pieces, likely making him one of the artist’s largest benefactors.

René Lalique was a French jeweler and glass designer whose work contributed to the Art Nouveau movement at the turn of the last century.  He trained in Paris and London but spent most of his life in Paris.  His creations are diverse, ranging from bottles, vases, clocks and even hood ornaments for cars, but it was his creative jewelry that brought him international fame.

Lalique was an innovator, introducing new materials rarely used in art, like horn, stones and enamel, and was fond of using themes of the natural world, especially animals (e.g. insects and snakes) in his work.

Below are some of the pieces I most enjoyed from this interesting display:

(Dragonfly-woman’s corsage ornament, 1897-98)

(Serpents corsage, 1898-99)

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(Vine motifs goblet, 1899-1901)

(Rose stem corsage ornament, 1904-05)

(Aquamarine and thistles flower brooch, 1905-06)

(Jouster corsage ornament, 1904)

(Serpents sugar bowl, 1897-1900)

(Angel brooch, 1902)

(Scarabs corsage ornament, 1903-04)

(Nymph in wisteria pendant, 1898-1900)

(Female figure chocker plaque, 1898 – 1990)

(Peacocks pendant, 1902-1903)

(Cockerel diadem. 1897-98)

(Tree branch haircomb, 1900-01)

(Orchids diadem, 1903-04)

(Grasshopper necklace, 1902-03)

(Grasshopper diadem, 1902-03)

(Apple tree bough diadem, 1901-02)

(Drone and umbels haircomb, 1901-02)

(Female face pendant, 1898-1900)

(Owls bracelet, 1900-01)

(Peacock corsage ornament, 1898 -1900)