Jewelry Designs in Gold and Rose Gold, Plate 5 from "L'Art de la Bijouterie" 1879 - 1881

Jean Francois Barousse created this jewelry design, Plate 5 from "L'Art de la Bijouterie", in 1879. Note the prominent use of floral motifs across the jewelry pieces; flowers, universally, are emblems of ephemerality and beauty, and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Consider the “Fleur-de-lis” inspired pendants. We see it reappear across centuries, from ancient Egyptian symbolic imagery, to medieval heraldry, and later in French royal emblems. The symbol has evolved over time, taking on different meanings. Here, the design speaks to a desire for order, the blossoming of culture, and the connection to both divine and natural law. Observe the stylized monkey motifs. They remind us of Egyptian baboons attending the sunrise. They are icons of vigilance, and knowledge. Such symbols tap into our collective unconscious and engage us on a deeper level. They provoke in us a sense of longing and recognition. Each image echoes, reverberates, resurfaces.