Pendant with a Mermaid 1885 - 1890

Alfred André crafted this pendant with a mermaid using gold, enamel, pearls, diamonds, and rubies in the late 19th century. During this time, jewelry served as an outward display of status, reflecting both personal identity and social standing. André’s mermaid, caught between worlds, embodies the fluidity of identity and the power of transformation. The choice of a mermaid, a creature of folklore, allows for a challenge to traditional representations of femininity. We see the figure gazing into a mirror, seemingly self-aware, adorned with jewels and fine details. Are we, the viewers, looking at the mermaid, or is she looking back at us, scrutinizing the way we look at her? André's pendant invites us to consider the narratives we construct around identity, beauty, and the gaze. It leaves us to question how the tension between myth and reality shapes our understanding of ourselves and others.