Broche van zilver met turkoois c. 1916

Curator: Before us is a silver brooch with turquoise, created around 1916 by W.F. Andréa. The piece beautifully represents the Art Nouveau style through jewelry design. Editor: My initial reaction is one of tranquil elegance; the silver’s subtle luster emphasizes the captivating pastel turquoise. It’s simultaneously grounded and ethereal. Curator: Absolutely, the piece's success arises partly from its embodiment of Art Nouveau aesthetics, prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It appeared amidst rapid industrialization and urbanization; designs such as this were crafted and celebrated in deliberate resistance to mass-produced aesthetics and culture, aspiring instead to organic forms and handcrafted uniqueness. Editor: The symbolism seems so deeply connected with nature, each radiating shape suggesting a stylized petal or perhaps even a shell. I wonder if the choice of turquoise holds a particular significance – was it perhaps associated with protection, healing, or even status in that era? Curator: Certainly. In addition to what it visually communicated about social identity, wearing this sort of object served as an aesthetic declaration—a promotion of handicraft against the backdrop of escalating factory production, showcasing a certain value system. These choices of adornment carry powerful statements within a burgeoning consumer culture. Editor: It's truly fascinating to consider this brooch not just as a beautiful object but as a subtle, wearable manifesto of cultural values during a period of tremendous social and technological change. Thank you. Curator: Indeed, it demonstrates how artistic objects often reflect society’s broader historical shifts, anxieties, and aspirations. A tiny, material token, replete with meanings.